In Naxal-hit Chhattisgarh, people want to vote, but without ink

Bastar/Raipur: Anywhere else, people would be happy to show that they have exercised their voting rights, but not in Naxal-hit Chhattisgarh.

With clear warnings to villagers in South Bastar to boycott the upcoming polls by Maoists, some local villagers have made a special appeal to the Election Commission not to apply indelible ink on their fingers when they vote on November 11.

"Yes, we have received this proposal and we have forwarded it to our headquarters for consideration," said D D Singh, State Joint Chief Electoral Officer.

Election Commission officials face many challenges in South Bastar. The fear of Maoists, especially in interior villages, is so palpable that villagers are unwilling to talk about the elections on camera. There are also fears that polling agents may not be able to reach all interior areas on the day of polling.

"Naxals resort to inhuman ways to torture people, if they see ink on the fingers of the villagers they may chop it off... threats by the Naxals does affect the villagers," said Arun Dev Gautam, Inspector General, Bastar.

Appeals by the Election Commission to vote without any fear may have worked in urban areas but in villages where people live in fear of the Maoists, it may not be so effective. So this unique proposal to do away with indelible ink in some villages may actually increase poll percentage and also bring relief to the scared villagers in Chhattisgarh.