State seeks 300 companies for election
65,000 paramilitary personnel to be deployed for polls in five states
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, January 11 2022:
Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Manipur has requested the Election Commission of India for providing 300 companies of central para-military forces for deployment in the upcoming 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly election.
Meanwhile, an official of ministry of home affairs has said that more than 65,000 Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) personnel will be deployed ahead of the upcoming assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Manipur and Goa.
Speaking to The People's Chronicle, a top official of the election department said that CEO Manipur has urged the ECI for deployment of 300 companies of para-military forces for the upcoming election along with informing that 300 heavy vehicles will be needed by the 300 companies while a total of 6588 vehicles will be necessary for the upcoming elections.
As the said vehicles could not be requisitioned from Manipur alone, preparations have been made to acquire the remaining vehicles from neighbouring states, the official added.
Informing that around 763 polling stations have been identified as volatile where electoral violence might occur, the official said that instructions have also been given to authorities concerned in each district to take precautionary measures for preventing unwanted incidents.
On the other hand, ministry of home affairs has said that more than 65,000 Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) personnel will be deployed ahead of the upcoming assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Manipur and Goa.
As many as 380 companies out of the 65,000 companies will be sent to Uttar Pradesh that has the highest number of seats and the longest polling period with seven phases, officials of the ministry added.
The border state of Punjab will also see heavy security deployment.
"In the 2017 polls, more than 450 companies were mobilised in Punjab.
This year, the state administration has sought more troops due to the ongoing farmers' protest and drone threats," explained a home ministry official.
The Union home ministry is said to have identified central forces from the CRPF, BSF, ITBP, CISF and SSB from neighbouring states, where elections are not being held, to be kept on standby, said a government official.
Security forces have been instructed to strictly adhere to standard operating procedures (SOPs), strengthen the security grid at sensitive and hypersensitive polling booths to avoid any untoward incidents.
To avoid large gatherings, particularly at sensitive poll booths in Uttar Pradesh, the state's authorities have been advised to invoke Section 144 of the CrPC.
The order restricts unlawful assembly and movement, holding of public meetings, carrying of weapons, sticks, banners, placards, etc.
CAPF personnel have been asked to ensure that all critical polling stations are covered by CCTVs, video and still cameras, as per the EC guidelines.
According to the EC, Uttar Pradesh will vote in seven phases beginning February 10, Punjab (117 seats), Uttarakhand (70 seats) and Goa (40 seats) will have single-day voting on February 14, while electorates in the 60-seat Manipur will vote in two phases.
Elections will be held for 690 assembly seats in these five states, and 18.3 crore people, including 8.55 crore women, will be eligible to cast their votes.
Concerned over the rapid spread of Covid-19 virus, the Election Commission has barred physical rallies till January 15 and a review would be made after that since the ground situation is dynamic" .
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