Cardboard cut-outs of election candidates. PHOTO: AFP
Maoist rebels killed 14 people in two poll-related blasts in an insurgency-hit region of central India on Saturday, highlighting the major security challenges faced in staging the nation’s marathon general elections.
The violence, the deadliest since the elections began last Monday, came as Indians cast ballots in the state of Goa and in the northeast in another round of the multi-phase elections that wind up May 12.
Most of those killed on Saturday were charged with ensuring election voter safety or other polling-related tasks. Seven polling officials died when Maoists blew up their bus in the state of Chhattisgarh, senior police officer Gurjinder Pal Singh told AFP. Five others were injured.
“The Maoists triggered the landmine blasts,” Singh said.
Five security men, who were carrying out an election safety sweep and who hitched a ride in an ambulance, were killed in another landmine blast. An ambulance driver and a paramedic were also killed in that blast. Four men were injured Singh said.
There was no voting in Chhattisgarh on Saturday.
The Maoists have called for a boycott of the elections. They sometimes target ambulances, as security officials are reported to use such vehicles to attract less attention.
But in this case, Singh said the security men had taken a lift in the ambulance as it was travelling without a patient.
The blasts, came days after Maoist rebels killed three soldiers guarding polling officials in Chhattisgarh.
Modi says he respects all traditions
Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) candidate for prime minister-ship, Narendra Modi, on Saturday said he believed in respecting traditions of all religions.
“Although I respect all traditions, I have to respect my own tradition as well. I can’t hoodwink people by wearing skull caps. [And] I believe in taking action against those who show disrespect to other’s caps,” Modi said in an interview to a TV channel.
Gandhi’s denial
India’s ruling Congress Party prime ministerial candidate Rahul Gandhi on Saturday denied allegations he had made a personal attack related to opposition front-runner Narendra Modi’s belated admission he is married.
“I just stated that he has not stated in the past (that he was married),” Gandhi, 43, told reporters as he presented his own candidacy papers in Amethi.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 13th, 2014.
COMMENTS (6)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
1715142871-0/imfsalary-(1)1715142871-0-270x192.webp)
@Jahangir Chauhan: Majority of Indians dont trust him. Game over for congress now. Khalaas!
@jahangir I hope that never happens I can't tolerate my country to be looted for another 5years.
@Jahangir Chauhan: facist? are you worthy of saying or teaching others about such? we all know Modi will make India stronger, which u all hate. come and see, Modi will be Indian PM
I hope Rahul Gandi will win at least we'll not have a fasisct leader leading an important neighbor country.
destroy all the forests in chhattisgarh.... its here where these terrorists hide.... and anyone going through these forest areas is bombed..........south chhattisgarh is heavily naxal affected...so is jharkhand north and bihar south..............they do this in every election....
1.2 billion mixed ethnic, religious groups voting over 9,30,000 booths in 30 states, 7 unions territories across india peacefully. And you find one incident of 12 among 1.2billion people major challenge? Come out of prejudice and falsehood.