Chh'garh polls: MHA asks security forces to be in mission mode

The Centre has ordered tightening of security in Chhattisgarh following intelligence inputs that Naxals are engaged in "assiduous preparations" to disrupt the two-phased assembly elections on November 11 and 19.
In an advisory, the Home Ministry said CPI (Maoist) continues to engage itself in "assiduous preparations" through large scale mobilisation of its cadre, assembling and planting of IEDs on polling routes and booths, formation of small teams assigned with specific tasks to locate suitable ambush points and target polling parties and security forces.
Large groups of armed Maoist cadres (more than 50) along with their senior leaders have been noticed on several occasions since October 1 in Narayanpur, Bijapur and Kanker districts in connection with executing the plan of the outfit to disrupt the polls.

The Maoists also organised a large meeting of cadres (approximately 300) which was attended among others by their chief Mupalla Laxman Rao alias Ganapathy.
"With regard to the elections, several small teams were formed and assigned specific tasks to locate suitable ambush points, plant IEDs, detain polling parties and loot EVMs during meeting where suitable awards with promotions in ranks were announced for the cadres on successful completion of assigned tasks," the advisory said.
The Home Ministry told security forces deployed in Chhattisgarh to step up anti-Naxal operations in the Maoist strongholds to dominate the areas not only within the state but also adjoining districts of Maharashtra and Odisha.

"The security forces must remain in mission mode during the entire electoral process and ensure peaceful and incident free elections," the advisory said.