Mumbai: Except two minor firing incidents in Naxal-hit Gadchiroli district, polling in Maharashtra is by and large peaceful, Director General of Police in-charge of elections, AN Roy said in Mumbai on Tuesday.
Roy said police had received reports of firing in Kasansur and Bonde villages, but there was no casualty.
"There has been no exchange of fire between Naxals and policemen," Roy said denying media reports about a police team coming under Naxal attack in Gadchiroli.
"At Kasansur and Bonde, villagers heard firing shots following which they complained to the police. The villagers claimed that Naxals opened fire. That is all," he said.
The polling process was not disturbed, Roy said, adding barring stray incidents of skirmishes between supporters of rival candidates polling in the entire state was peaceful.
Earlier reports said that Naxalites opened fire near Kasansur shortly before polling commenced. Police, however, did not return the fire as part of strategy since Naxalites were not visible as they were hiding in forest, police said.
After firing was reported in Bonde village, reinforcements were rushed by a helicopter, Roy said.
Around 21 per cent polling was reported in the first four hours of voting for the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly on Tuesday.
"Around 21 per cent of the over 7.56 crore eligible voters in the state exercised their franchise till 11 am (1100 hrs IST)," an election official said.
The polling began on a peaceful note at 0700 hrs IST.
On October 8, 17 policemen were killed in an ambush by the Naxals in Gadchiroli district.
Contingents of central paramilitary forces have been deployed in Naxal-hit Gadchiroli and Chandrapur districts of Vidarbha region to thwart any attempt by Maoists to disrupt the election process.
Over 1.29 lakh state police and Central paramilitary forces have been deployed across the state to ensure fair and peaceful poll.
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