NEW DELHI
Twelve people including poll officials and security personnel were killed in two separate "Maoist" attacks in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh on Saturday, Indian media reported.
The first attack took place in the district of Bijapur when a bus carrying poll officials and members of the Central Reserve Paramilitary Force was hit by a powerful landmine blast.
The chief electoral official of Chhattisgarh confirmed the death of seven poll officials.
"Seven polling officials have lost their lives in Naxal [Maoist guerrillas] attack in Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh," state chief of election commission, Sunil Kujur, told Times of India daily.
The second landmine attack took place in Darbha Valley, 160 km east of Bijapur, killing five members of the paramilitary force who were traveling in an ambulance after clearing the road for a polling party.
Four security personnel were injured in the attack.
Chhattisgarh, which sends 11 lawmakers to India’s lower house of parliament, went to polls on April 10 for one constituency.
Anonymous posters reportedly put up by Maoists appeared in parts of the state asking voters to boycott the national election.
The remaining 10 constituencies of the Maoist-affected state will go to polls on April 17 and April 24 in two phases.
Security has been tightened throughout the state following the attacks.
The violence comes in the middle of the national election, a massive democratic exercise involving around 815 million voters.
The election, held on April 7-May 12, entered its fourth phase on Saturday with three northeastern states and one western coastal state going to the polls for seven seats.
By Mubasshir Mushtaq
englishnews@aa.com.tr
