Ahead of the Lok Sabha and assembly elections, the Election Commission of India (ECI) is making significant strides in Odisha’s Swabhiman Anchal, a region once considered a stronghold of Maoist insurgency. About 30 polling booths are slated to be established in villages across nine gram panchayats in the area, as confirmed by a senior Odisha police official.
The decision to set up polling booths in Swabhiman Anchal comes after years of Maoist threats and violence, which had deterred voter turnout in previous elections. In 2019, several booths witnessed zero polling due to Maoist intimidation tactics, including threats to voters’ safety. Despite security measures in place near Border Security Force (BSF) camps, voter participation remained low.
Arun Sarangi, the Director General of Police (DGP) for Odisha, highlighted the significant decline in Maoist violence in Malkangiri district over the past year and a half. This improvement in security conditions has paved the way for relocating polling booths to village areas, ensuring greater accessibility for voters.
Swabhiman Anchal, comprising 151 villages, had long been a focal point of Maoist activity, with incidents of violence targeting security forces and government officials. Sarangi emphasized the importance of continued vigilance, especially during the election period, to prevent any resurgence of Maoist activity.
Given the proximity of elections in neighboring Chhattisgarh, authorities remain vigilant against potential Maoist infiltration into Odisha. Sarangi assured that operational forces are prepared to thwart any such attempts, highlighting the crucial role of community cooperation in maintaining peace and security.
The initiative to establish polling booths in Swabhiman Anchal reflects the ECI’s commitment to facilitating democratic participation in regions affected by insurgency, ensuring that citizens have the opportunity to exercise their fundamental right to vote without fear or intimidation.
