SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Nov 5: Deputy Commissioner (DC) Madhivi Mishra and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) HP Janardhan conducted an assessment of security arrangements at booths influenced by Naxal activity in the Topchachi block. They provided necessary directives to the concerned police officers to ensure safety and order during the elections.
In Dhanbad, the district administration has identified 41 booths as Naxal-affected, 37 as vulnerable, and 632 as critical, as the elections for six seats in Dhanbad are scheduled for November 20.
History of Naxal violence in Topchachi and Tundi
Topchachi and Tundi blocks are known for their history of Naxal influence, where banned organizations have previously called for election boycotts.
In the 2004 Lok Sabha elections, Naxals infamously gunned down a poll officer, who was a doctor for the Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL).
Despite the absence of boycott calls since 2014, the administration remains vigilant and implements heavy security measures for every election, from Panchayat polls to Lok Sabha elections.
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On-site evaluations of critical booths
On Tuesday, DC Mishra and SSP Janardhan visited booth no. 217 at Middle School Dhajatand and booth no. 218 at Khamdih in Topchachi block, approximately 38 km from the district headquarters, to evaluate the security arrangements firsthand.
They held a meeting with SDPO Purushottam Kumar Singh to discuss the security measures and strategies for conducting peaceful polling.
Community response and local candidate support
Both Dhajatand and Khamdih booths are situated in villages located in the hilly terrain of the Parasnath mountain, surrounded by dense forests, making access challenging for vehicles.
The area has been historically regarded as a stronghold for Maoists, with police avoiding visits to these remote locations even during the day.
“Villagers were compelled to fall in line with Naxals (voting boycott) as there was no scope for police help in emergencies. But now the situation has changed. The visit of DC and SSP has boosted the morale of voters. Moreover, since a local villager, Vikash Kumar Mahto, has been made a candidate of a national party (BJP), villagers are upbeat to vote,” said Akshay Kumar, a resident of Topchachi.
Topchachi falls within the Tundi assembly constituency, where the BJP has fielded young villager Vikash Kumar Mahto as their candidate.
