Maoist threats to enumerators have halted Census operation in 321 villages in insurgency-hit Bastar division in Chhattisgarh, officials said here on Tuesday.
The Census workers have been warned against entering these villages, where only rebels’ writ runs, forcing the government to suspend enumeration there. The g
overnment employees assigned the task of undertaking enumeration in the area, have even turned down the government’s offer to give them security to start the operation, sources in state home department said here.
“No Census work could be undertaken in 321 villages in Bastar division till date as the enumerators didn’t dare to enter the area. They have also declined the security offer during the enumeration, fearing that the Naxals may target them if they would be found in the company of security personnel,” said a senior officer in the office of director of Census.
“Following the threats, the state government had been given time till September last to complete the first phase of Census 2011 involving listing of houses and collection of data for NPR,” he disclosed.