Imphal, January 07: Counting of votes for the ensuing 8th Assembly elections in the state is to be done at the nine district headquarters and at Kangpokpi and Jiribam under tight security.

A decision to this effect was taken at a high level security coordination meeting held today at the state secretariat with the chief secretary, Rakesh, in the chair.

Counting of votes is scheduled to begin on February 24, 2002 and it will continue till it is completed.

Today's security coordination meeting was attended by the chief election officer, DS Poonia, principal secretary (home) PBO Warjari, and IG (law and order) P Baral.

The DGP; Manipur AA Siddique was to have attended, but could not as he had rushed to Thoubal district in connection with the bomb blast today at Umathel.

Considering intelligence reports that underground-related violence could occur during the elections, today's meeting agreed on adequate deployment of security all over the state to meet any eventuality.

It may be mentioned here that there will be altogether 1152 polling stations in the 40 constituencies in the valley area and 849 polling stations in the 20 hill constituencies.

The strength of the electorate is 14,44,886.It was further agreed that the government press, candidates, returning officers and presiding officers and observers should be provided with security from the evening of January 28 next, when scrutiny of nomination papers is to be held.

The strength of security deployment will be in accordance with police and intelligence assessment.

It is also learnt that a total of five helicopters are to be requisitioned for ferrying ballot boxes to and from remote and inaccessible areas.

The ballot boxes are to be kept under CRPF guard.

A total of 28 election observers are expected to be deployed by the Election Commission of India for the state Assembly elections.

Two general observers and one expenditure observer are to be placed in each district, with a separate observer for Jiribam subdivision.

In the meantime, the security coordination meeting held today has also decided to further press the Union ministry of home affairs to send the additional security forces requisitioned by the state for the forthcoming elections.