KOKRAJHAR, April 19 - The District Magistrate of Kokrajhar Partha Pratim Mazumdar vide an order has promulgated Section 144 CrPC in the entire Kokrajhar district to prevent group clashes and communal disturbances ahead or during the third phase of Lok Sabha election slated for April 23.
In the order, the District Magistrate cautioned that there have been information from different sources about likelihood of occurrence of law-and-order situation due to group clashes and communal disturbances during the poll day. Further, sources reported that unidentified persons/groups are carrying and brandishing lethal weapons in some parts of the district.
In view of the same, the district magistrate has imposed Section 144 CrPC to prohibit assembly of five or more persons in any public places, taking out processions, shouting slogans, holding meetings, rallies, dharna, demonstrations in any public place, pillion-riding, carrying or brandishing of weapons, firearms and ammunition of any kind, using of full mask helmets by motorcycle riders, use of tinted glass in vehicles, use of microphone outdoors without permission, procurement, storage, sale, purchase and use of explosives, crackers and fireworks of all nature and description.
However, executive magistrates, police, Army and paramilitary forces are exempted from the purview of this order. Children below 12 years, women and senior citizens are also exempted from the purview of this order regarding prohibition on pillion-riding. The order would come into force from April 22 and remain in force until further order.
Sensitive polling stations: In the meantime, preparations for smooth conduct of the forthcoming Lok Sabha election in respect of 5-Kokrajhar (ST) HPC has been made.
A master plan has also been prepared for proper and hassle-free conduct of the election. The election for this HPC is going to be held on April 23 next.
For the convenience of functioning, the 30-Kokrajhar east Assembly segment has been divided into 5 different zones which have been further subdivided into 21 sectors. Different cells have also been constituted to streamline works on different issues and officers-in-charge of each cell have since been appointed.
There are 245 polling stations under 30-Kokrajhar East LAC. Of the 245 polling stations, 29 have been identified as very sensitive, 149 as sensitive and 67 as comparatively safe. Six polling stations have been identified as critical polling stations.
In Kokrajhar Lok Sabha constituency, altogether 17,48,827 voters, out of which 8,93,237 males and 8,55,590 females, besides 8,813 service voters will decide the fate of the contesting candidates.
It may further be mentioned here that Kokrajhar HPC consists of ten Assembly segments comprising 28-Gossaigaon, 29-Kokrajhar West (ST), 30-East Kokrajhar (ST), 31-Sidli (ST), 33-Bijni, 40-Sorbhog, 41-Bhabanipur, 58-Tamulpur, 62-Barma, and 63-Chapaguri spread over Kokrajhar, Chirang, Barpeta and Nalbari districts.
