The naxal-affected regions in the district recorded good turnout in the Assembly elections.
According to sources in district administration, 68 to 70 per cent polling was recorded in the naxal-affected region.
Superintendent of Police Koushalendra Kumar told The Hindu that, 30 polling stations in the district were identified as naxal-affected. Tight security was provided for these polling stations. The polling was peaceful, he said.
In Kumbribail, a village in Hosanagar taluk regularly frequented by the naxals, 81 per cent polling was recorded.In Yadur, another naxal-affected village in Varahi backwater region, 78 per cent polling was recorded while 77 percent polling was recorded in Kornakote.
Security
The Zilla Panchayat Higher Primary School booth at the naxalite affected Rattady village saw a voter turnout of 42.69 per cent by 11.15 a.m. As many as eight members of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) with guns were on guard at the booth. The Government Higher Primary School polling both in the naxalite-affected village Amasebail saw a voter turnout of 50 per cent by 12.10 p.m.
Seventy per cent of voters had cast their votes at the Government Lower Primary School polling booth in the naxalite-affected village of Kasinamakki village by 1 p.m.
The Government Higher Primary School polling booth in the naxalite affected village of Someshwara Pete in Nadpal village also saw 70 per cent voter turnout by 1.10 p.m. Sixty-three per cent of voters cast their votes at the Government Higher Primary School booth in the naxalite affected village of Sitanadi by 1.20 p.m.
However, polling appeared to be slightly slower in the polling booths of Government Higher Primary School at Hiriyadka in Kaup Assembly Constituency and at Manipal Pre-University College booth in Manipal in Udupi Assembly Constituency. The voter turnout in the former was 52 per cent at 2.30 p.m., while it was 50.5 per cent in the latter at 2.55 p.m.
