Malkangiri: The administration has confirmed zero polling in five panchayats of ‘Swabhiman Anchal’ (previously known as cut-off areas) of Malkangiri district, due to the threat given by Maoists much before the elections.
It is learnt that there was zero turnout in Andrapali, Jantri, Sanyasiguda, Handikhalo, Panasaput, Singhai, Gorasetu booths, including Booth No- 01 & 02 in Kunturupadar police camp of Jodamba village in the Swabhiman Anchal, under Chitrakonda Assembly constituency segment.
Moreover, the voters of Temurupalli did not go to cast their votes to four booths. For, the booths are located far away from their village. The villagers of Tamasaput have also boycotted the elections alleging that no development work was done in their area. So, there is zero voting altogether in 15 booths of Malkangiri district.
However, about 54 employees engaged in election work were airlifted Wednesday in a special helicopter and all of them have returned back empty-handed as not a single voter turned out at the booths to cast vote till 4pm.
PNN