Security beefed up ahead of second phase of Chhattisgarh polls

The police has beefed up security ahead of the second phase of polls, after recovery of a huge explosives from Maoist-affected Gariyaband district of Chhattisgarh.

Fourteen tiffin bombs and live cartridges, besides other "Maoist-related items" were recovered after an encounter with naxals in the Chuura police station limits of Gariyaband bordering, Odisha state, the police said.

The encounter between security forces from the Mahasamund district and the Maoists took place in the forests of the Gaurmudi village, after which explosives and live cartridges were recovered, Mahasamund Superintendent of Police Deepak Jha told PTI.

Security forces were mobilised from Komakhan police station limits of Mahsamund along the interstate border of Chhattisgarh and Odisha for the operation, he said.

After crossing an area falling in Odisha, when security forces reached the forests of Gaurmudi village, the rebels opened fire on them and fled, after security forces retaliated, he said.

Later, 14 tiffin bombs, four detonators, eight live cartridges, AK 47 rifle rounds, one live self-loading rifle cartridge, wire, batteries, Maoist documents and items of daily use were recovered from the spot, he said.

It appeared that Maoists were campaigning in the area since the past few days, since lots of materials of daily use were recovered from the spot, he said.

The officer did not rule out the possibility of Maoist presence in the region to disturb the polls and said that an "area domination exercise" was on in the region.

As many as 18 constituencies of Maoist-affected Bastar region and Rajnandgaon district went to the polls in November 11, while rest of the 72 constituencies of the state will go to polls during the second phase on November 19.

Adequate security arrangements are being made in districts like Mahasamund, Gariyaband, Dhamtari and North Chhattisgarh, due to frequent Maoist movement in these areas, which will go to polls during the second phase, the police added.