Gadchiroli (Maharashtra), April 16 (Inditop) A gang of heavily armed Maoists came to attack a polling booth in a village Thursday but were foiled by security forces who opened retaliatory fire forcing them back into the jungles, police here said.
The guerrillas were seen approaching the booth in Kondavahi village here at 5 a.m. Thursday, two hours before elections were to begin, but were chased by security forces.
“Our security forces chased them and they opened indiscriminate fire. In our retaliatory fire, they dropped everything and escaped into the jungles nearby,” District Superintendent of Police Rajesh Pradhan told IANS.
However, polling started normally and proceeded smoothly, he added.
Some arms, ammunitions and explosives left behind by the Maoists have been recovered. There were no casualties in the incident.
Gadchiroli, among the worst hit by Maoist violence, encompasses the Gadchiroli-Chimur Lok Sabha for which elections are being held in the first phase today. The other two phases will be held on April 23 and April 30.
rounak