Mumbai, October 13: Naxalites targetted police and poll personnel to enforce their election boycott call and candidates were booked for inducing voters as polling for the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly passed off, by and large, peacefully with an estimated 60 per cent voter turnout.
Around 60 per cent of the 7.56 crore electorate cast their votes to elect the 12th Assembly, election officials said.
In Gadchiroli district, where 17 policemen were killed by Maoists on October 8, Naxals opened fire at polling personnel at Malewada in Armori constituency, triggering a brief shootout which saw no casualty, DGP for elections A N Roy told reporters.
However, Roy said reinforcements had to be airdashed to the area when the poll personnel escorted by a police contingent found their way blocked on return journey with the Naxalites digging up the road and placing logs on them.
The poll personnel are still held up in Malewada.
Maoists also reportedly fired in the forest around Bonde village in Korchi taluka, but polling proceeded uninterrupted.
Polling parties could not reach 22 booths -10 in Aheri taluka, 7 in Armouri and 5 in Gadchiroli as Naxals obstructed their way by placing felled trees and digging up roads.
—Agencies7