Centre assures full security to Jharkhand voters - India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

The Centre on Monday assured full security to Jharkhand voters in the wake of a recent Maoist call, boycotting the five-phase assembly elections in the state. "Over 300 companies of para-military forces will be placed at the disposal of the Election Commission to ensure free and fair elections," a Homi Ministry statement said. "Ministry of Home Affairs would like to assure all voters in Jharkhand that they should have no concerns about their security and they will be able to exercise their franchise freely and fearlessly," it added. CPI (Maoist) leader Mallojulla Koteswar Rao alias Kishenji had recently stated that the Congress and the JMM would be "targeted" during the elections. Similarly, Samar Jee aka Anmol, through a press release, warned that those who participate in the election process would be "punished" by the Maoists. In General Elections this year, Maoists has issued a similar call. Nevertheless, over 57 percent of the electorate in Jharkhand voted in the Parliament elections.