Bhubaneswar, Jan. 16: Uncertainty looms large over the conduct of three-tier panchayat polls in the cut-off areas of Chitrakonda in Malkangiri district in view of Maoist threat.

Tomorrow is the last date for filing nomination papers and a not single paper has been submitted so far.

The Malkangiri district and police administration sought instructions from the State Election Commission on Saturday after three officials, entrusted with the polling works at Chitrakonda, had told the authorities that they would not perform election duties. The rebels had earlier abducted two of the three officials and threatened them with dire consequences if they conducted polling in the area.

Poll body secretary R.N. Sahu today told The Telegraph: "The nomination process will be over tomorrow. If no nomination paper is filed, we will have to announce a fresh schedule later," he said.

While three officials have given in writing that they would not take part in the polling, other employees of the district administration have urged the authorities to provide heavy police escort to conduct the polling.

Malkangiri SP Mitrabhanu Mohapatra said: "There are structural problems to provide security to the officials on poll duty in the cut-off area as the standard operating procedure has banned boat journey in the Chitrakonda reservoir. There is also one helicopter at our disposal to ferry officials to the region. That's why we have sought instructions from the higher authorities."

The Maoists have also asked the electorate in the area to boycott the rural polls.

The half-burnt body of a woman sarpanch candidate, Mini Dalabehera, 31, was found from the Shagada hills at Mohana in Gajapati district today.

Dalabehera was a Congress supporter and filed her nomination paper for the post of sarpanch for Baghamari under Mohana block on January 11. Her father, Paul Dalabehera, said she had been missing since January 13. Her husband suspected a "conspiracy" behind her mysterious death.

Gajapati police superintendent Sushil Kumar Panigrahi said: "The family members of the deceased had filed a missing complaint at Chandragiri police outpost. Acting on the complaint, the police today recovered her half-burnt body in the jungle." The police have recovered some empty wine bottles from the spot.

Though the exact reason behind her murder is yet to be known, the cops suspects political rivalry behind her death. "Her rivals might have kidnapped and murdered her. They might have burnt the body to destroy the evidence." said a police official.

In another development, Balangir district Congress committee president Bhagaban Bagarti today resigned from the party post, accusing interference of the Congress heavy weight and Opposition leader Narasingha Mishra in the panchayat poll campaign. It is said that Bagarti is not happy with Mishra's son being given importance in the panchayat elections in the district.

PCC president Prasad Harichandan, however, sought to downplay the differences in the party in the district. "Bagarti has resigned citing personal reasons. His resignation has been accepted," he said.

The Maoists have also called for election boycott in Kandhamal district. Maoist posters have been found at various places in Ritungia panchayat under Baliguda police station. Through them, the rebels threatened the villagers to stay away from the polling stations. The posters have created panic among local people and political leaders in the area.