Imphal, February 11: The police have registered 18 cases of pre-poll violence, according to the DGP AA Siddique.

Talking to this Correspondent the police chief claimed that number of poll related violence in this round of election is less than that of 2000 polls.

As many as 37 cases of poll related violence were registered in the last election, he said.

The DGP assured that despite the inadequate strength of security forces security measures would be taken in such a manner that no one will threaten a voter inside the polling both.

However, he was not sure of the security outside the polling booths.

When asked about protecting all the 368 candidates the police chief said many candidates have not demanded security guards.

Only 200 candidates have made the demand for providing escort personnel.

"Since we can not provide 100 pc security guards to all the candidates we decided to give guards only to those who have been facing serious threats and those fighting the polls very seriously.

We do not have enough forces for dummy candidates," he said.

The DGP further said some candidates have no firm base.

If security guards are provided to them, they may become open targets of underground elements to snatch weapons.

"We have no time for such candidates," the DGP said adding candidates are classified on the basis of intelligence reports.

He was disinclined to make a comparison of the situations in the hill and valley, but added that repelling was more in the hills in the last elections because of booth capturing.

He also said this time violence is reported more in the valley.

The DGP said almost all the candidates in the valley are served demand letters by underground organizations in the hills there are only 3 or 4 cases.

When asked if he would blame the Centre for providing less than a quarter of the total security companies the State had demanded the DGP said he would blame himself if things go against his hope and confidence.

"You have 100 companies of security forces and can not control eruption of violence in certain areas then you have to blame your strategy, tactics, method of deployment and planning," he said.

The DGP expressed the apprehension that communal tension may mount in the hills.

There is an apprehension that there may even be clashes, he said adding precautionary measures have been tightened to prevent them.

The DGP denied the allegation that the candidates are asked to deposit Rs 45,000 each for getting security guards.

He said every candidate or political party is trying to use the influence of undergrounds in the ensuing election.

He described the underground situation in Manipur as a total confusion.

According to him, it is because of the presence of a large number of groups with different agendas.

When asked about violation of human rights by police commandos the police chief regretted that nobody says anything when underground organizations violated human rights.

"Why people are thinking that only police commandos have violated human rights," he asked.