Police will ensure candidates' security in panchayat polls:

Odisha DGP KB Singh today said the state police will ensure the security of all the candidates and poll officials during the three-tier panchayat election, polling for which begins from February 13 in five phases.
He said this after reviewing the law-and-order situation in Kalahandi, Bolangir and Nuapada districts in the wake of a Maoists' call to boycott the polls.
Singh reviewed the situation here in the presence of IG Operations RP Koche, DIG South-West S Saini, DIG Intelligence Narasingh Bal, Kalahandi SP Brijesh Kumar Rai, Bolangir SP Ashish Singh and Nuapada SP Samit Sampat.
Briefing reporters after the review, the DGP said the police force and the intelligence wing have been kept on alert to combat the threat of the Maoists.

"In Kalahandi district, all the arrangements have been made, so that the polling process is not affected and the people can exercise their voting rights without fear.
"The security of candidates, polling personnel and polling booths will be taken care of. Special patrolling will be carried out in the sensitive and hyper-sensitive areas," he said.
The DGP visited the western region of the state a day after reviewing the Maoist situation and preparation for the panchayat polls in tribal-dominated Malkangiri district.