Puvarti, a Maoist stronghold in Sukma district bordering Bijapur district, is the home village of dreaded Naxalite leader Hidma.

In Puvarti village, the ancestral home of notorious Naxalite leader Hidma, residents chose to abstain from the electoral process.

Surge of voters flooded polling booths despite recent case of violence.

Bastar recorded a  voter turnout of more than 42 per cent till 1 pm on Friday even as a CRPF officer was injured in a Naxalite-planted pressure improvised explosive device (IED) blast. Another CRPF man was hurt in Bijapur district when  grenade launcher exploded.

In Chhattisgarh, the recent encounter that reportedly led to the death of 29 Naxals has sparked a major controversy.  Former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel of the Congress party has raised suspicions about the legitimacy of the encounter, suggesting that some of those killed might have been innocent villagers mistakenly labeled as Naxals.

In a significant clash in Chhattisgarh's Bastar region, a substantial anti-Naxal operation resulted in the death of 18 militants, while also leaving three security personnel wounded. The encounter occurred in the forest area of Chhotebethiya, Kanker, a known hotspot for Naxal activity.