National
Despite concerns, over 60 percent vote in Province 6
Defying security threats in the districts having a considerable influence of the CPN led by Netra Bikram Chand, more than 60 percent of the registered voters cast their ballot in Province 6 on Sunday.Provincial Bureau
Defying security threats in the districts having a considerable influence of the CPN led by Netra Bikram Chand, more than 60 percent of the registered voters cast their ballot in Province 6 on Sunday.
Districts including Kalikot, Rukum and Jajarkot had seen a series of anti-election activities including bombings and attacks in the past few weeks. Assessments of the Ministry of Home Affairs had considered CPN cadres as the major threat for the polls.
They had listed districts including Rolpa, Rukum and Kalikot as “most-sensitive” with increased incidence of anti-poll activities. However, these threats did not deter voters from going to the polling centres on Sunday.
Although bombs were planted in a few polling centres of Kalikot on the voting day, people exercised their suffrage right.
On Saturday night, more than 200 CPN cadres attacked the Thigelni Basic School and detonated seven bombs in the area. Police took the situation under control after firing dozens of warning shots. Two injured police personnel have been airlifted to Surkhet for treatment.
DSP Subash Bohora said the ballot boxes would be ferried to the district headquarters by Sunday night. He said helicopters would be used in a few areas to transport the ballots. “Bombs went off in a few areas but that had little impact on the polling stations and centres,” said Badri Nath Gaire, the Kalikot chief district officer.
In Jajarkot, believed to be a CPN stronghold, only a single attempt at explosion was reported. An explosive device planted in Tribeni of the district was defused by the Army.
Rukum was also affected with five explosions at two polling centres in Bayali Village and Churti Pakha on Sunday morning.
In Aathbiskot Municipality of Rukum, a person was arrested on the charge of throwing acid in ballot boxes.
Police made two blank fires to take the situation under control. Dhurba KC of Bafikot Rural Municipality-5 said many voters did not show up at the polling centres due to security fears.