Only Central Paramilitary Forces in polling stations
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 17, 2012:
Only Central Paramilitary forces would be deployed in all polling stations of the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly elections scheduled on January 28. An official source informed that one section of CPMF would be deployed in polling stations categorised as sensitive and two sections of CPMF in each hyper sensitive polling stations.
As of now, there is no question of deploying local police in polling stations.
In case, if any need for deploying local police arises, half of the required strength of security personnel would be drawn from CPMF and local police would constitute the remaining half.
The same arrangement can be effected only with due permission of the Chief Electoral Officer, Manipur.
For the single-phase election, altogether 350 companies of security forces would be deployed.
Of the 300 companies of CPMF detailed for election duty in Manipur, 236 companies have arrived in the State.
Another 14 companies have reached Dimapur enroute to Manipur.
Meanwhile, 12 CRPF companies left Dimapur for Imphal this morning.
Several companies of CPMF have been already sent to interior areas of hill districts so as to give full security coverage in all polling stations and electorates can vote freely and peacefully.
In view of the cold weather which can render the non-local CPMF personnel sick and in case of any encounter with militants in the interior areas, BSF has reserved a helicopter for evacuation of sick or injured personnel as the case may be.
Two pilots, two technicians and one engineer have been put on stand by to press the chopper into service as when it is needed, and they would be accompanied by a medical team.