Polling to be held as per schedule despite naxal attack: Chhattisgarh CEO

Polling in Chhattisgarh's Bastar seat in phase-one of the Lok Sabha elections will be held as per schedule, Election Commission officials said Tuesday, hours after a BJP MLA and four security personnel were killed in a naxal attack in the constituency.

"Polling will go on as per schedule," EC officials said quoting state Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Subrat Sahu.

In his report to the poll panel, Sahu said he has "taken an immediate video conference of collectors and SPs (superintendents of police) of the affected districts covering Phase 1 and phase 2 in Chhattisgarh".

The CEO also said he has "instructed them to take utmost precautions over the next few days" keeping in mind polling in the first phase on April 11 and second phase on April 18 in the state.

Dantewada, where the attack took place, falls in the Bastar Lok Sabha constituency, which will go to polls in the first phase on Thursday.

Chhattisgarh will go for polls in three phases -- April 11, 18 and 23.

BJP MLA Bhima Mandavi and four security personnel were Tuesday killed when their convoy was attacked by naxalites in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district.

The incident occurred at Shyamagiri hills when the MLA's convoy was heading towards Kuwakonda from the Bacheli area, which is about 450 km from state capital Raipur.

The naxalites blew up a vehicle in the convoy with an IED and opened fire at the occupants, killing the MLA and four security personnel, police officials said.