Noting the increasing violence ahead of 10th Assembly polls...
CEO seeks licensed gun reports
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 13 2011: In view of the heightened cases of violence amongst rival political workers ahead of the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly elections, the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Manipur has asked the District Magistrates to submit detailed reports on licensed guns and their holders.

This was conveyed by CEO PC Lawmkunga himself while opening the election control for the nine districts, ADC Jiribam and ADC Kangpokpi today in his Old Secretariat office.

In line with the Election Commission's instruction, the District Magistrates have been directed to submit clear reports on the number of licensed guns issued within their respective districts and the number of licensed gun holders who have moved outside their parent districts.

District Election Officers (DEOs) have also been asked to identify all sensitive polling stations and to give detailed reports on the expenditures being made by aspiring candidates.

The CEO informed that the Election Commission would be urged to provide 426 companies of Central para-military forces so as to ensure that the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly elections are held peacefully.

During the last Assembly elections held in 2007, only 220 companies of Central para-military forces were utilised.

PC Lawmkunga

The projected increase in the strength of security personnel has been necessitated because of the increase in the number of polling stations this time.

Altogether there would be 152 more polling stations this time as compared to the last Assembly elections, Lawmkunga stated.

Two sections of security personnel would be deployed in each polling station identified as hyper sensitive, one section each in sensitive polling stations and one section or half a section in each polling station classified as normal, he informed.

The district-wise strength of State Police available for utilisation in the elections is 1098 personnel in Imphal East, 2578 personnel in Imphal West, 713 in Bishnupur, 1041 in Thoubal, 435 in Chandel, 370 in Ukhrul, 630 in Senapati, 320 in Tamenglong and 488 personnel in Churachandpur.

According to the draft electoral roll released on September 29, the total number of male voters in the State is 8,25,207 while females account for 8,51,390 .

Compilation of photo electoral rolls has been completed by 95.14 per cent for the whole State whereas the same work has been fully completed in eight Assembly Constituencies.

To procure 500 EVMs which would be kept in reserve for the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly elections, election officials have left for Bihar today, informed the CEO.

Lawmkunga further informed that he and six representatives of different political parties would take part in a workshop at New New Delhi on October 17 .

The workshop would be attended by all the States which would go to polls together with Manipur early next year and it would focus on monitoring election-related expenditures.

On the other hand, a call centre to receive election-related complaints was opened today at the CEO's office at Lamphelpat.

The number for the call centre is 1950 .

Election control rooms for the nine districts, ADC Jiribam and ADC Kangpokpi were also opened today.

Election related complaints like omission from electoral lists or other errors in personnel details can made to the call centre through its number 1950 from BSNL landline or mobile phones.

Other private mobile service providers would also allowed to make calls to the same number very shortly, says a report.

Appealing to all potential complainants to tell their names and identity while making complaints, the CEO stated that they would be responded in the form of SMS.

For this, the CEO office would be buying slots for six lakh SMS.