Budha Pahad of Garhwa district known as the safe hideout of the Maoists, which was freed by the police and CRPF, is once again going to create a new record because for the first time after independence, the people of primitive tribe living on this Budha Pahad will be a part of the great festival of democracy and will vote.
Jharkhand's Chief Election Commissioner (CEO) K Ravi Kumar reached Hesatu village of Budha Pahad with his eight-member team including Nodal officer Amol Homkar and CRPF IG Rakesh Agarwal on Friday. The Election Commission team visited Budha Pahad which was once a highly Naxal-infested area. Voting is to be held here for the first time after independence, so the commission has also geared up.
Therefore, the Election Commission reached here and took stock of the preparations and also reviewed the preparations for the peaceful conduct of voting with the officials.
The CEO also talked to the local people here about the voting. Voters said that for the first time we will vote in the Lok Sabha elections. The officials have come and made us aware about voting. Earlier we were not able to vote because there were Naxalites, today we will vote in a fear free environment. Voters said that the officials have come among us and what can be better than this. The Mukhiya, Hesatu Panchayat said that now since the police camp has been set up in areas like Budha Pahad, development is reaching here, people are coming and going somewhere without any fear.
This time people here are very excited that they will not have to go anywhere to vote because earlier they had to go very far and that is why people were not able to go to vote.
While reviewing the election preparations by holding a meeting in the premises of Hesatu Middle School, Chief Election Commissioner K Ravi Kumar said that people are being made aware. 30 years ago, polling booths were made in these areas. In the meantime, some circumstances arose that people had to go far away to vote and people were not able to reach there. Ever since the security personnel have set up their camp in these areas, people are fearlessly taking their problems to the administration and they are also being resolved. Now polling booths will be re-established at these places so that people can cast their votes.
