Guwahati: The Election Commission has categorized 2975 polling station in insurgency-hit Assam as ‘very sensitive’, 6635 ‘sensitive’ and 440 ‘hyper sensitive’ out of the total 18,829 polling stations even as 75 companies of paramilitary forces are being dispatched to the state exclusively for election duty.
Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Hemanta Narzary on Tuesday informed that though Assam had asked for 120 companies of paramilitary forces for conducting of polls, it had been assured of 75 companies. Election will be held in two phases in Assam on April 16 and April 23. Out of the total 14 Parliamentary constituencies, three will go for polls on April 16.
The official further informed that some companies of the paramilitary force had already arrived and taken positions in the three constituencies -- Autonomous district, Silchar and Karimganj – where election is being held on April 16.
A total of 40 companies of paramilitary forces were deployed in Assam during the last parliamentary election held in 2004. Out of the total 18829 polling stations, 274 polling stations can be accessed only through boats. EC officials informed that elephants will also be used to send polling materials and officials to certain remote areas. In case of emergency, helicopters will also be used during the polling process in the state.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) is deploying forty-two central election observers at the rate of three observers per constituency. Central observers have already arrived in the state for the first phase while the rest will arrive by April 4.
In response to the instruction from the EC, Assam government has so far executed 2562 non-bailable warrants as a precautionary measure before polls. The Chief Electoral Officer informed that there were over 19000 total pending non-bailable warrants and the election department is focused on execution of those most important for smooth conduct of polls. He said it was difficult to execute non-bailable warrant issued in the name of members of insurgent outfits.
The EC has received a total of 21 complaints regarding violation of model poll code of conduct in Assam including and in some cases FIRs have been filed with the police. THE SHILLONG TIMES
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