Maoist's warning to polling officers in Bengal

KOLKATA: In a press release issued by the Dankaranya Special Zonal Committee on Monday, Maoists have warned people, polling personnel and journalists, not to travel in vehicles of paramilitary or police personnel. This comes after Maoists killed 14 people, including seven polling officials, at Bastar in Chhattisgarh on Saturday.
The release is a clear indication that during the election, the rebels might target many parts of the country.In West Bengal, where five Lok Sabha constituencies, Ghatal, Midnapore, Jhargram, Bankura and Purulia, have been labelled as Maoist-infested, security arrangements are not adequate.
Senior police officers did not take the release seriously but chief electoral officer Sunil Gupta admitted that there was a threat perception. "There is a Maoist problem in Jangalmahal even now and the Election Commission will do everything to make this election peaceful. The voting time in these six assembly constituencies have been cut short. Polling will take place from 7am to 4 pm in assemblies like Binpur, Jhargram, Bandowan, Bagmundi, Joypur and Balarampur," Gupta said.
Apart from this, the Election Commission allotted ten satellite phones for the ten sector offices in Jangalmahal. "These areas fall under the shadow zone and therefore, there will be no IT enabled application. To stay in touch with these polling stations, the EC has sanctioned these SAT phones," Gupta added.
But is that adequate? When polling stations all over the country will have the latest IT facility like web-casting, mobile live tracking and will get android base mobiles to keep themselves updated, the nearly 3,000 sensitive and 3,900 highly sensitive booths of Jangalmahal will have to rely on traditional methods.
According to an EC official, "The vulnerability mapping of the villages of Jangalmahal is going on and we have identified sensitive and highly sensitive villages and accordingly, we have sent our report and our requirement to the commission. Now, the EC will decide about the allotment. So far, there has been no specific instruction for the area. As the districts will go for polls on May 7, there is very less time. Let's see what can be done".
However, sources in the Election Commission indicate that the requirement list includes helicopters, anti-landmine vehicles, more Sat phones for better communication, satellite-based tracking system and UAVs, so that the entire polling process can be monitored properly.
When asked about it, DIG (Midnapore Range), Ajay Nanda said, "We will have to work with whatever we have got. We are relying more on source-based information network and will arrange our forces according to that. We have also asked for helicopters but that has not been sanctioned yet".
According to a senior cop of the district, Maoists like Shyamal and Madan in Belpahari and Bikas and Jayanta in Jamboni are traced in and around Jhargram and Purulia. "Some unknown group members are also moving around Nayagram and Gopiballavpur. They are coming in plainclothes and talking to the villagers," he said.