EC to appoint police observers - Poll notification after X'Mas
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 23, 2011:
For overseeing the conduct and performance of police and paramilitary forces in the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly elections, the Election Commission has launched a process to appoint police observers.
On the other hand, a reliable source has informed that the election notice is most likely to be issued after Christmas.
Coupled with the measures taken up to check use of black money and money power in the forthcoming elections, due procedures have been initiated to appoint police observers to ensure that security forces detailed for election duty discharge their duties in a free and fair manner, informed an official source.
One police observer would be appointed for each of the nine districts of Manipur and police officers not lower than the rank of DIG would be appointed as police observers.
The Chief Electoral Officer has already prepared a proposal towards this effect.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission has written to the Chief Secretary to stock adequate quantity of fuel so as to ensure that any possible economic blockade does not hamper movement of vehicles and election related activities.
A similar letter has also been written to the Secretary of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
Notably, the Election Commission has already directed the Chief Electoral Officer to prepare deploy plans to conduct the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly elections in two phases.
Election notification will be announced after Christmas, said a source.