GUWAHATI, May 15 � The State-level crisis management group today decided to carry out helicopter surveillance in the vulnerable areas of the Bodoland Territorial Autonomous Districts (BTAD) and along the Indo-Bhutan border areas to prevent any untoward incident following the declaration of the election results tomorrow.
The BTAD areas have been witnessing trouble for some time and it is believed that armed miscreants involved in killing of more than 40 innocents in Kokrajhar and Baksa districts recently managed to sneak into Bhutan.
An official release said that the crisis management group, which met today under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Jitesh Khoshla, reviewed the situation in the State and took major decisions on the steps that need to be taken to prevent any untoward incident following the declaration of the election results. More than 100 companies of forces have already been deployed in the BTAD area. Moreover, 141 fixed security pickets and 35 mobile pickets have been deployed in the vulnerable areas of the BTAD.
The meeting decided that victory processions would be banned in 11 sensitive districts of the State. These are Kokrajhar, Baksa, Chirang, Dhubri, Goalpara, Nalbari, Bongaigaon, Kamrup, Udalguri, Darrang and Barpeta. All emergency services, including fire brigade, civil defence, VDP and Home Guards, are being kept ready. The Army would be kept as stand-by for quick deployment in case of any eventuality.
The meeting decided to intensify search operations to recover illegal weapons and strong action will be taken against anti-social elements and rumour mongers.
Members of the crisis management group also held video conference with the Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police of the vulnerable districts to review the preparations to deal with any situation that may arise following the declaration of the poll results. The DCs and SPs have been directed to take strong action against any trouble maker.
The meeting was attended among others by Director General of Police Khagen Sarma, senior officials of the concerned departments of the government and officers of the Army and Air Force.
