RAIPUR, Nov 12: Defying Maoist threats, lakhs of people voted on Monday in 18 constituencies in the first phase of the Chhattisgarh Assembly election, with officials putting the voting percentage at nearly 20 per cent in the first four hours.
"So far 18-20 per cent polling has been registered in all the 18 seats. Thirty-one EVMs and 61 VVPAT machines were replaced due to technical snags. Except for one incident, polling so far is peaceful and is steadily picking up," Chief Electoral Officer Subrat Sahoo said.
Voting was on at 10 seats since 7 a.m. and eight others from 8. Polling would end at 3 p.m. in Narayanpur, Dantewada, Bijapur, Konta, Mohla-Manpur, Antagarh, Bhanupratappur, Kanker, Keshkal and Kondagaon.
Polling in Khairagarh, Dongargarh, Rajnandgaon, Dongargaon, Khujji, Bastar, Jagdalpur and Chitrakot, which started an hour later, would continue till 5 p.m.
Maoists who had asked people to boycott the elections detonated an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in Katekalyan area in Dantewada district, minutes before the polling began.
A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) foot patrol team narrowly escaped the attack just 700 metres from a polling booth in Nayanar village, an officer said. - IANS