Attacks on Election Commission staff unfortunate: V S Sampath

Chennai: Terming as "unforunate" the attacks on polling party in two separate incidents in Chhattisgarh in which 11 persons were killed, Chief Election Commissioner V S Sampath said on Saturday the Commission would stand by their families.

"It is a very unfortunate incident and in the run up to the polls, in many places like Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, a lot of precautions are to be taken by the polling staff when they go to the polling station," Sampath told reporters here, replying to a query.

"There have been two such incidents today, where there were some casualties. We are yet to get full details. All the injured people have been taken to hospital. The Commission will do everything to stand by the families of those who were injured or have been killed," he said after taking stock of the preparations in Tamil Nadu that would go to poll on April 24.

Seven members of a polling party and five CRPF personnel were among 13 killed as Naxals struck twice today in a gap of less than an hour, blowing up a bus and an ambulance in Bijapur and Bastar districts of Maoist-hit Chhattisgarh.

Eleven persons, including five paramilitary personnel, were also injured in the incidents.