Tight security for final phase of panchayat poll

Tight security arrangements have been made for tomorrow's fifth and final phase of polling for the three-tier panchayat in 26 districts, including Maoist-hit areas.
In this phase, polling would be held for 1173 sarpanchs, 16,148 samiti members and 150 zilla parishad members spread over 26 districts, said State Election Commission secretary Rabindranath Sahoo.
"Barring Angul, Boudh, Jharsuguda and Malkangiri, elections will be held in the remaining 26 districts in which a total of 44,50,893 voters will exercise their franchise. The polling has been completed in the four districts," he said.
The director general of police has asked all district collectors and superintendents of police to ensure a free and fair election, he added.

Special security arrangements have been made in Rayagada, Bolangir and Nuapada districts where Maoists have asked people to boycott polling, officials said.