Polling peaceful in 13 sensitive Telangana constituencies in

Polling passed off peacefully Friday in 13 Telangana assembly constituencies identified as sensitive in view of proximity to Maoist affected areas bordering Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra, police said.

Police said they arrested a cadre of banned CPI-Maoists in Bhadradri Kothagudem District and seized two pipe bombs, thwarting attempts to carry out attacks through its "action teams".

"The polling process in 13 constituencies out of the 119 assembly segments identified sensitive to Left wing extremism wasconducted in peaceful manner," Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Jitender told PTI.

One Maoist "action team" member was nabbed under Cherla police station limits in Bhadradri Kothagudem District, another police official said.

Two pipe bombs were seized from them while at least four other ultras managed to escape into bordering Chhattisgarh, the official said.

Last month, the Police had said they foiled attempts by the CPI-Maoists to carry out attacks through its "action teams" on political leaders and police in the run-up to the polls with the arrest of senior woman cadre P Rupa alias Sujatha from Bhadradri Kothagudem District.

Police had also said all necessary security measures to ensure, free, fair and peaceful elections were put in place as they anticipated Maoists might resort to some desperate action just to create some sensation and prove their existence in a very few places particularly in the Bhadrachalam region that borders Chhattisgarh.