In Chhattisgarh, around 45 per cent polling has been reported in the bye-election to the Bastar Lok sabha seat. Polling came to a close at 4.00 pm. Besides the Congress, the BJP, the CPI and five other candidates were in the fray. AIR correspondent reports that, more than 1700 polling centres were set up across the Bastar division having a 12 lakh strong electorate. About 20 officials engaged in the election duty in the Bastar bye-poll in Chhattisgarh who were missing since this morning from Dantewada district have since returned. They were on their way to four different polling booths under the Katekalyan police station area of the district under police protection when the naxalites and the police had an encounter this morning leading to the killing of an SPO. These election personnel had been reported missing earlier.