Poll talk : Clip IM's wings
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 21 2011: Along with discussion on security aspects of the upcoming election to the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly due sometime in early part of next year, a meeting of the State Level Security Co-ordination Committee held today has decided on taking up necessary measures to prevent NSCN (IM) and other UG groups under Suspension of Operation (SoO) interfering in the election process.

According to an official source, the meeting of the State Level Security Co-ordination Committee was held with Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) PC Lawmkunga in the chair at the conference hall of Old Secretariat, South Block today and attended by ADGP (Law and Order) V Zathang, IG (Law & Order-II) C Doungel, DCs and SPs of various districts.

The meeting discussed all the required security aspects towards smooth conduct of the election to the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly which is likely to be held either in last week of January or first week of February next year.

During the course of discussion, the DCs and the SPs raised issues related to taking up necessary measures to prevent NSCN (IM) and other SoO signatory UG groups from unduly interfering in the election process, directly or indirectly, as well as to stop any possible illegal activities that may be adopted for ensuring success of their sponsored candidates, the source said.

Providing additional security in polling stations located far from the district headquarters and deployment of security in consideration of community composition were also taken up for discussion in the meeting, the source disclosed.

The CEO also issued necessary instruction to all concerned for finalisation and submission of report by September 29 on the number of Central Paramilitary forces that would be required for deployment to ensure smooth conduct of the election in all the districts, the source added.

It may be noted here that 223 companies of Central Paramilitary forces were utilised during the 9th Manipur Legislative Assembly election conducted in 2007 .

On the other hand, another official source conveyed that for the first time source has conveyed that for the first time inclusion of photographs of the electors in the Photo Electoral Rolls have been completed in six Assembly Constituencies of the State.

The six Assembly Constituencies where the Photo Electoral Rolls exercise have been completed cent percent are Khundrakpam, Heingang, Khurai, Kshetrigao, Thongju, Sekmai (SC) and Lamshang.

Of the total 16,75,597 electors in Manipur, the photographs and other related particulars of 15,95,158 electors have been included in the Photo Electoral Rolls, thus leaving only 81,439 electors who are yet to be covered.

So far, the Photo Electoral Rolls exercise has covered 98.76 percent in Imphal East, 97.70 percent in Imphal West, 87.72 percent in Chandel, 85.26 percent in Ukhrul, 95.59 percent in Senapati, 95.28 percent in Tamenglong and 89.70 percent in Churachandpur district, the source disclosed.

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