Chhattisgarh Assembly Elections 2023: Encounter breaks out between security forces, Naxals during Polls

Chhattisgarh Assembly Elections 2023: In the midst of the first phase of polling in Chhattisgarh, a confrontation erupted between security forces and Naxals in the Kanker district on Tuesday.

The exchange of fire occurred between the Border Security Force (BSF) and District Reserve Guard (DRG) and Naxals in the Bande police station area, coinciding with the first phase of polling in the state.

Officials have reported the recovery of an AK47 at the encounter site, and a search operation is currently in progress within the vicinity.

Multiple Confrontations Across the Day

Another encounter between DRG personnel and Naxals took place near Panawar at approximately 1 pm today.

Moreover, during the ongoing polling earlier in the day, Naxals targeted DRG personnel stationed near the Banda polling station.

Sukma Police stated that security forces responded with retaliatory fire, resulting in a ten-minute exchange before the Naxals ceased their assault.

The personnel had been deployed in the outer cordon, approximately 2 kilometres from the Banda polling station.

Naxal-Infested Regions in the Polls

Of the 20 assembly constituencies participating in today's polls, several are situated in Naxal-affected areas.

Chhattisgarh, with a 90-member legislative assembly, is conducting elections in two phases, with the second phase scheduled for November 17.

Out of the 20 constituencies in the state currently undergoing polling, 12 are located in the Bastar division. These constituencies are found in districts such as Bastar, Dantewada, Kanker, Kabeerdham, and Rajnandgaon.

High Voter Turnout Despite Tensions

According to the Election Commission's data at 5 pm, 70.87 per cent of voters exercised their franchise in the first phase of polling for the 20 assembly seats in Chhattisgarh.

The vote count is slated for December 3.

(With ANI Inputs)