 Talukas- 12  Total Area– sq kms  Forest Area – sq kms

Sr. No. ItemNos. 1 No.of Assemblies 3 [ 67-Armori, 68-Gadchiroli, 69-Aheri] 2 Total polling stations Total locations 721

 Gadchiroli is the only naxal affected area in Dandakaranya to go for elections.  Porous border facilitating naxal crossover.  Strong intelligence inputs suggested naxals would sabotage elections to demoralize govt. machinery.  In the past naxals attacked polling parties, security forces. They had laid IED’s along the roads and in polling stations.  Naxals terrorized people to boycott elections  Candidates contesting were soft targets.  Gadchiroli is the only naxal affected area in Dandakaranya to go for elections.  Porous border facilitating naxal crossover.  Strong intelligence inputs suggested naxals would sabotage elections to demoralize govt. machinery.  In the past naxals attacked polling parties, security forces. They had laid IED’s along the roads and in polling stations.  Naxals terrorized people to boycott elections  Candidates contesting were soft targets.

 Familiarizing CPMF & SRPF reported for election bandobast with local terrain & culture  Loksabha elections were conducted successfully in the month of April and our strategy was known to naxals  MI-17 airforce helicopter was fired by naxals when carrying out rescue operations during Loksabha elections.  Hypersensitive booths at location more than 10 kms from the base camp to be covered by foot are 165. The parties are more vulnerable for attack.  Because of terrain VHF sets doesn’t works in a few dead zones. Communication was a problem at times of emergency

o Blasting with Encounter – 01 (Grenade Blast) o Encounters – 20 o Murder – 08 (including 1 Police murder) o Arson – 06 o Other Naxal Offences - 02 o Total Offences registered - 27 o No. of Policemen Killed - 18 o No. of Policemen Injured - 05 o No. of Civilian Killed - 08 o No. of Civilian Injured - 01 o No. of Naxal Killed - 01 o Total loss of property /- From 01/09/2009 to 25/10/2009

 Regular communication with bordering state forces and other intelligence agencies was maintained to keep tab of naxal movement  CPMF officers till the rank of platoon incharge were briefed and familiarized with the nature of exercise they were to undertake  Bn and Coy locations were carefully selected so that logistical movements and essential supply lines to the CPMF deployed are kept intact.  Regular communication with bordering state forces and other intelligence agencies was maintained to keep tab of naxal movement  CPMF officers till the rank of platoon incharge were briefed and familiarized with the nature of exercise they were to undertake  Bn and Coy locations were carefully selected so that logistical movements and essential supply lines to the CPMF deployed are kept intact.

 Base camps were created & CPMF in Coy strength were deployed and AOR was clearly defined.  Intensive Road Opening was completed to deploy the CPMF in their identified base camps.  Two types of operations viz. ‘Operation Aastha’ ‘Operation Nirmulan’

 Security forces visited all the villages to inform people regarding elections by taking meetings and distributing pamphlets.  Information was given about election, how to vote and importance of democracy.

 Large scale area domination and intelligence based operation were launched.  Nakabandi, night ambush and CASO were conducted  Large scale area domination and intelligence based operation were launched.  Nakabandi, night ambush and CASO were conducted

 Classification of polling booths - Hypersensitive Sensitive Normal  Proposals were sent to ECI to relocate 36 hypersensitive booths & reduce poll timing till 1500 hrs.  Movement of candidates and canvassing teams were also taken in to consideration for planning patrolling exercise.  60 INMARSAT phones were supplied by the govt. to ensure safe communication.  18 hyper sensitive polling booths which were vulnerable had polling parties dropped by helicopters.  Backpacks were given to polling parties which were to walk longer distance.  Classification of polling booths - Hypersensitive Sensitive Normal  Proposals were sent to ECI to relocate 36 hypersensitive booths & reduce poll timing till 1500 hrs.  Movement of candidates and canvassing teams were also taken in to consideration for planning patrolling exercise.  60 INMARSAT phones were supplied by the govt. to ensure safe communication.  18 hyper sensitive polling booths which were vulnerable had polling parties dropped by helicopters.  Backpacks were given to polling parties which were to walk longer distance.

 Classification of polling booths - Hypersensitive Sensitive Normal  Proposals were sent to ECI to relocate 36 hypersensitive booths & reduce poll timing till 1500 hrs.  Movement of candidates and canvassing teams were also taken in to consideration for planning patrolling exercise.  60 INMARSAT phones were supplied by the govt. to ensure safe communication.  18 hyper sensitive polling booths which were vulnerable had polling parties dropped by helicopters.  Backpacks were given to polling parties which were to walk longer distance.  Classification of polling booths - Hypersensitive Sensitive Normal  Proposals were sent to ECI to relocate 36 hypersensitive booths & reduce poll timing till 1500 hrs.  Movement of candidates and canvassing teams were also taken in to consideration for planning patrolling exercise.  60 INMARSAT phones were supplied by the govt. to ensure safe communication.  18 hyper sensitive polling booths which were vulnerable had polling parties dropped by helicopters.  Backpacks were given to polling parties which were to walk longer distance.

Total No. of Vehicles hired during Elections for transportation of men & logistics SumoJeepTaxi5 Toner/ Minibus Matador (407) Water Tanker TruckCraneST Bus

 On 8 th October naxals made an orchestrated attack on the police party of at Laheri area 180 kms South East of Gadchiroli.  1 PSI and 16 men were killed  Four days before elections advantage of numbers was reworked  Overnight 24 addl. CPMF were air lifted from Jammu & Jalandhar on 10 th October  Massive redeployment was completed to reinforce each party.  On 8 th October naxals made an orchestrated attack on the police party of at Laheri area 180 kms South East of Gadchiroli.  1 PSI and 16 men were killed  Four days before elections advantage of numbers was reworked  Overnight 24 addl. CPMF were air lifted from Jammu & Jalandhar on 10 th October  Massive redeployment was completed to reinforce each party.

 All base camps had identified helipads  Each party in vulnerable areas were provided with quick clot powders and other basic medicines  02 specialist medical team from I.G.M.C, Nagpur were stationed at Gadchiroli. In addition to the O.T and blood bank facilities.  Rural hospitals and PHCs with doctors were kept in readiness.  Helicopters with its crew were kept alert for CASVAC  Crisis support teams with all arms & ammunition were kept in readiness near the helipad in the HQtrs.  MPVs and bunkers stationed at strategic locations were provided with satellite phones.  14 BDDS teams placed at Sub divisional level.  Special patrolling teams were stationed to prevent any untoward incident in normal booths  All base camps had identified helipads  Each party in vulnerable areas were provided with quick clot powders and other basic medicines  02 specialist medical team from I.G.M.C, Nagpur were stationed at Gadchiroli. In addition to the O.T and blood bank facilities.  Rural hospitals and PHCs with doctors were kept in readiness.  Helicopters with its crew were kept alert for CASVAC  Crisis support teams with all arms & ammunition were kept in readiness near the helipad in the HQtrs.  MPVs and bunkers stationed at strategic locations were provided with satellite phones.  14 BDDS teams placed at Sub divisional level.  Special patrolling teams were stationed to prevent any untoward incident in normal booths

 Temporary base camps at safe locations were established to prevent staggering of forces.  A detailed sortie plan was made to drop polling parties in the base camps  Reserve parties were stationed at HQs for airlifting  Reserve parties in MPVs and bunkers were also diverted during attack by naxals. - Bonde - Khamtala - Jimalgatta  Temporary base camps at safe locations were established to prevent staggering of forces.  A detailed sortie plan was made to drop polling parties in the base camps  Reserve parties were stationed at HQs for airlifting  Reserve parties in MPVs and bunkers were also diverted during attack by naxals. - Bonde - Khamtala - Jimalgatta

 Polling party with the security forces could reach 97% locations and conducted safe polls  Our forces countered the naxal evil designs and polling close to 70% was registered.  ECI declared re polling for 15 th October for 22 polling booths were the parties couldn’t reach.  Bandobast plan reworked & addl. security forces were diverted from near by areas.  The repolling was conducted successfully in the sensitive areas amidst naxal threat. Naxal withdrew seeing heavy presence of security forces.  Polling party with the security forces could reach 97% locations and conducted safe polls  Our forces countered the naxal evil designs and polling close to 70% was registered.  ECI declared re polling for 15 th October for 22 polling booths were the parties couldn’t reach.  Bandobast plan reworked & addl. security forces were diverted from near by areas.  The repolling was conducted successfully in the sensitive areas amidst naxal threat. Naxal withdrew seeing heavy presence of security forces.

 Election Commission immediate and timely intervention helped in strengthening deployment pattern with addl. forces  Continuous follow up, guidance and support of senior officers helped in conducting this bandobast in a successful manner.  The CPMFs at all levels in spite of limitations worked in excellent coordination with the district force in order to complete the assigned task.  Entire administration machinery at district, state and national level worked in tandem and rendered all necessary assistance and guidance  The air force crew with MI17 and Chetak helicopters rendered air support that offered swiftness to the entire exercise.  The election exercise as anticipated was heavily challenged by naxals. But, proper planning, execution, wholesome participation of the entire district police force helped in peaceful conduct of elections.  Election Commission immediate and timely intervention helped in strengthening deployment pattern with addl. forces  Continuous follow up, guidance and support of senior officers helped in conducting this bandobast in a successful manner.  The CPMFs at all levels in spite of limitations worked in excellent coordination with the district force in order to complete the assigned task.  Entire administration machinery at district, state and national level worked in tandem and rendered all necessary assistance and guidance  The air force crew with MI17 and Chetak helicopters rendered air support that offered swiftness to the entire exercise.  The election exercise as anticipated was heavily challenged by naxals. But, proper planning, execution, wholesome participation of the entire district police force helped in peaceful conduct of elections.