Munger: For the first time in two decades, voters in the Naxal-affected Bhimbandh area of Munger district exercised their franchise on November 6, marking a significant return of democracy to a region where polling was suspended following the killing of SP C Surendra Babu and seven police personnel in 2005.
Voting was conducted peacefully across the three assembly constituencies of Munger district, with visible enthusiasm among residents of Bhimbandh. Seven polling stations were reopened in the Naxal-affected region, and a strong deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) ensured a smooth polling process.
At polling booth number 310, located at the Forest Department Rest House in Tarapur constituency, 374 registered voters, including 170 women, participated in the historic vote.
Eighty-one-year-old voter Vishun Dev Singh, who cast his vote after twenty years, expressed gratitude to the Election Commission and the government.
“Before 2005, we used to vote in our village, but due to Naxalite incidents, the polling stations were moved nearly twenty kilometres away. Elderly and women voters found it difficult to travel that far. Today, voting has taken place in our village after two decades; we are very happy,” he said.
First-time voter Badal Pratap, who recently turned 18, said, “Voting is taking place in our village after twenty years. We are happy to finally be able to participate in the democratic process.”
Another villager, Dilkhush, said that the return of polling stations would not only strengthen democracy but also open opportunities for local development and education.
Neelam Devi, another resident, said, “Earlier, we had to cross the jungle to vote. Now the booth is nearby and convenient. The arrangements are good, and we feel safe.”
Sector Magistrate Ashok Kumar confirmed that polling was being conducted peacefully. “This area is voting after twenty years, and there is visible happiness among the villagers. Central forces have been deployed, and continuous patrolling is underway to maintain security,” he said.
A government official at the booth said that authorities had worked to restore voter confidence. “We assured people they could come and vote freely without any fear. Awareness drives were held to encourage participation,” the official told ANI.
Another villager said, “Earlier, the situation was not favourable, but now there is peace. The security camp and government facilities have improved our lives. We are living peacefully in the jungle, and everyone, young and old, is voting happily.”
The state in recent years has successfully contained the Maoist-insurgency which was once dominating a significant portion of land, affecting dozens of districts. Numerous arrests of Naxals and their sympathisers have been made by the police in recent time with security forces also carrying out operations in bordering areas as well.
According to details, only a handful of armed Maoists remained active in the state with Maoist activities limiting to a few inaccessible pockets of Jamui, Lakhisarai and Chakarbandha region.
This has been achieved with the security officials running a continuous campaign against the extremists in Valmiki Tiger Reserve area and Diyara area of North Bihar along Aurangabad, Gaya, Nawada, Jamui and mountainous region of Kharagpur of South Bihar region.
According to police as many as 90 persons wanted in connection with Maoist related cases in the state have been so far apprehended by the police this year with the campaign to nab the remaining one continues.
Earlier in August, ADG Ops Kuntal Krishnan stated that the target of the police is to meet the deadline announced by the Union Government.
“Our target is to meet the deadline announced by the Union Government to eliminate armed Maoists. We are working on it. No violence activities were carried out by Maoists in the state so far in 2025. Search operations are being conducted and IEDs are also being recovered,” he said.
Voting is underway for the first phase of the 2025 assembly polls across 121 constituencies of 18 districts with approximately 3.75 crore electors casting their ballots. The remaining 122 seats will hold polls on November 11 with counting of votes scheduled for November 14.
(With inputs from ANI)
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