Odisha has made preparations for setting up ‘independent’ polling booths in Swabhiman Anchal, earlier considered as bastion for left wing extremists (LWEs), where people would freely exercise their franchise in the forthcoming elections after decades.
“For the first time, people in Swabhiman Anchal will cast votes in their own localities. Earlier, polling booths used to be set up near camps of security forces and now, the booths will be set up in villages,” Arun Sarangi, Odisha’s Director General of Police, said. Mr. Sarangi had led a high level police team to take stock of prevailing situation in Swabhiman Anchal. Over 30 booths are proposed to be established in the region, Mr. Sarangi informed.
Fearing raids by LWEs and threat to life of electoral officials in Swabhiman Anchal, polling booths used to be set up near camps of security forces. The region is going to poll on May 13.
