Click to play videoRajnandgaon: As Chhattisgarh went to polls on Friday, the first phase was marred by instances of naxal violence affecting voter turnout.
Sporadic violence marred the first phase of polling in Chhatisgarh. The violence was reported from the southern Bastar region where Naxalites hold sway.
An Indian Air Force helicopter ferrying an injured BSF trooper came under heavy firing by Naxals. A flight engineer was killed in the attack.
The Maoists also triggered a string of landmine blasts to scare voters.
Three persons including two polling personnel were injured. EVMs were taken away at a few places.
At several places police had to fire on suspected Naxalites trying to disrupt polls.
The naxal guns had some kind of an adverse impact. During the first phase of polling in Chattisgarh not many turned out to vote in naxal affected areas even as security forces struggled to maintain peace in and around polling booths.
Most of the violence was reported from the constituency of Mahendra Karma leader of the Opposition in Dantewara.
However, the scale of violence was anticipated by the people.
The Election Commission felt that the voter turn out was satisfactory, in spite of the violence.
Election commission official said that according to their information the polling was in the range of 57 per cent plus minus two three.
The BJP had won more than two thirds of the seats that went to the polls on Friday in the last election.
The Congress has reasons to worry if the BJP manages to repeat its performance this time as well.
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