Naxal landmines recovered from helipad in Chhattisgarh

      Kanker, November 14, 2008: A major incident was averted today when a huge land mine was recovered from the helipad in Bastar region, constructed for landing of polling parties for today’s assembly election in Chhattisgarh.

     The alert police party today recovered a land mine from Nednar Helipad of Narayanpur district before any helicopter could land there, Inspector General of Police Bastar A N Upadhyaya told ChhattisgarhTopNews.Com.

     Meanwhile, armed rebels Maoists and security forces are locked in encounters in more than 23 places in Bastar region, reports from various areas said.

     At least four security forces were injured when Maoists opened fire in Morpalli and in another case of explosion of pressure bombs in Gorkha village in Dantewada district.

      Due to naxal threat polling parties today failed to reach in Maduki, Godapalli, Michwar and Poddem booths, election office sources said.

     Due to violence committed by the Maoists, polling in 21 places had been affected partially or fully and the election commission had been informed about that, the local officials said.

     On the first phase 39 assembly seats, including 22 naxal-hit constituencies had gone for polling and on November 20 the rest 51 seats would go for poll.