Mangalore, Apr 17: Amidst tight security in naxal-affected areas in the district, there was a decent turnout of voters on polling day at polling stations in four assembly constituencies in Dakshina Kannada district limits.
Thursday saw voters coming out in good numbers in the rural parts of the district, especially in naxal-affected areas. Out of the 158 polling booths in naxal-affected areas in the western range of Karnataka State police, 62 polling booths are located in Dakshina Kannada district.
At a polling station in Kuthloor in Belthangady taluk, eight personnel of Kerala Armed Police were deputed for security in the naxal-affected vilage. The polling percentage at the two polling booths in the polling station till 1 p.m. was 52.98 percent and 55.95 percent.
At a polling station in Naravi in Belthangady taluk, which is known for naxal encounters, one civil police personnel and eight Kerala Armed Police personnel were deputed for security. A total of 27 polling booths in the area, which is reportedly the focus of Naxal activity in the district, were also being patrolled by a ten-member mobile team of Anti-Naxal Force.
Speaking to reporters at Naravi, Dakshina Kannada Superintendent of Police S D Sharanappa said that polling had been peaceful in the naxal-affected areas of the district, with 50.6% polling percentage in Bantwal, Belthangady, Puttur and Sullia assembly constituencies till 1 p.m. on polling day. So far, the voter turnout in naxal-affected areas has been good. The police force has been collecting reports and updates from each of 62 polling booths in naxal-affected areas at a regular interval of 15-20 minutes, he said.
The polling station in Naravi saw an average voter turnout of 53.65 percent till 2 p.m. Two polling booths at a polling station in Eedu village, also a naxal-affected area, saw a voter turnout of 59 percent and 66 percent till 2 p.m.
Tight security in naxal-affected areas
Renjith, a Kerala Armed Police personnel, told Coastaldigest.com, that there was no noticeable naxal activity in the area and the polling process was ongoing smoothly. The locals have been very co-operative, he said, adding that the main problem faced by the police personnel was the language barrier, as they did not understand the local language.
For the Lok Sabha elections this year, police personnel had been deputed from Karnataka State Armed Reserve Police, Kerala Armed Police, Maharashtra Special Reserve Armed Police force and Central Industrial Security Force in the district. Teams from Anti-Naxal Force were involved in rigorous combing operations in naxal-affected areas, while mobile teams were patrolling in the areas throughout the day.
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