Around 40 % voting was recorded till 1330 hrs in 10 Lok Sabha and 70 assembly constituencies of Orissa, which witnessed sporadic incidents of firing and arson by Naxals in Malkangiri and Sundargarh districts.
Despite the Maoists'call for poll boycott, voters' turn-out was encouraging in Naxal-infested districts like Malkangiri, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput, Sundargarh and parts of Ganjam where over 30 per cent polling was recorded.
In riot ravaged Kandhamal,where both Naxal and communal threat loomedlarge,voters'turn-out was around 40 % till 1300hrs with a large number of riot affected,including those lodged in relief camps,heading to booths.
Heavy exchange of fire took place between the CRPF and Maoists early in the morning at Mahupada, about 40 km from Rourkela in Sundargarh district but there was no report of injury to anybody, police said.Superintendent of Police, Rourkela, Santosh Bala said the situation is under control and polling is being held peacefully.
At least three polling booths, EVMs and two vehicles were set afire by Maoists in Chitrakonda and Kalimela area of Malkangiri, disrupting polls.
