Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 09:
With possibility of anti-social elements likely to play soil sports in the forthcoming election to the 9th Manipur Legislative Assembly slated to be held sometime in February next year, the State Government has approached the Union Home Ministry for providing 1000 companies of Central Para Military forces.
IG (law and Order) S Dinokumar has also been appointed as the nodal officer of the police for ensuring free and fair conduct of the election.
Conveying this to The Sangai Express, a top official of the Police Department informed that although the State Government has requested the Union Home Ministry for providing 1000 companies of Central paramilitary forces for smooth conduct of the forthcoming election, how many companies would be actually provided is not known as the timing of the election and in how many phases it would be held has not yet been finalised.
But there is already assurance of providing 300 companies, the official added.
As done during election in other States of India, only Central paramilitary forces would be probably pressed on duty in all sensitive polling stations both in the valley and hill areas.
It may be noted that Central forces were deployed during the Konthoujam by-election.
The official further disclosed that as part of the preparation being made for the election, IG (L&O) S Dinokumar has been appointed as nodal officer and DGP yesterday convened a joint meeting of all high ranking police officers, SPs and COs to review the security arrangement being made so far.
The meeting held in the banquet hall of I MR with DGP AK Parasher in the chair discussed measures to be taken up for flushing out underground elements from sensitised areas and improve the law and order condition so that the election could be held smoothly.
Apart from having instructed the SPs concerned to find out how many security personnel would be required for the poll in their respective jurisdiction, they have also been asked to submit a detailed report on the number of the sensitive polling stations, security to be deployed and vehicles required to the Police Headquarters at the earliest possible.
On the other hand, a meeting of the Election Commission of India attended by State Chief Electoral Officer RR Rashmi and Additional CEO was held yesterday to discuss the election preparedness in the State.
The scheduled of the election is likely to be announced by the middle of the current month.