Security up in Telangana for polls amid looming naxal threat

: In view of the parliamentary polls in Telangana Thursday, the state police have sounded a high alert and beefed up security in the bordering areas after the naxal attack in neighbouring Chhattisgarh.

The police have already geared up for free, fair and peaceful conduct of the Lok Sabha elections and taken all measures to maintain law and order in 33 districts of the state.

Over 50,000 personnel from the police and central para-military force would be part of bandobust duty.

Vigil has been mounted in the Left-wing extremism-affected areas and the combing operation intensified.

"All necessary arrangements are in place to ensure free, fair and peaceful conduct of Lok Sabha elections in the state," a senior police official told PTI.

Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Jitender Tuesday said the call by Maoists to boycott polls for the last several decades has no support from citizens and this has been proved again and again during several elections.

On Tuesday,BJP MLA Bhima Mandavi and four security personnel were killed when their convoy was attacked by naxalites in Dantewada district of Chattisgarh.