Following the attack on a CRPF search party by Maoists in neighbouring Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh Police said the elite Grey Hounds strike force will be deployed in the bordering areas with Orissa, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra.

The state is facing a four layered election programme from March 30 to May 7.

Explaining the need for the deployment, DGP B Prasada Rao told reporters here that a meeting with the Superintendents of Police from Telangana and Coastal AP districts was held and the situation was discussed. New strategies to deal with the Maoist attacks have been given to the officers.

“There could be efforts by the Maoists to stop the process of elections in desperation. We will have to stop the Maoist action teams,” he said, adding that so far the police have not found any movement of Dalams, but are worried that the Maoists could also target politicians and movement of ballot boxes or EVMs.

“For this purpose we are also deploying helicopters. They will be stationed at Visakhapatnam, Bhadrachalam and Khammam,” he added.

Ballot boxes will be transported from Maoist areas to the headquarters with the help of these choppers. In addition, the AP Police also sought 20 per cent additional paramilitary forces to the state for  smooth elections.

The police have identified 26,135 out of the 68,678 polling stations in the state as critical and 14,213 clusters also troublesome. In all 1,038 checkposts will be erected and 942 flying squads will be deployed on election duty.