GUWAHATI, April 6 � Three police officers of the rank of Inspector General of Police (IGP) have been entrusted with the responsibility of maintaining law and order in the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) area during the polls to the Council to ensure violence-free elections, said the State Election Commissioner, Biren Dutta.
Talking to The Assam Tribune on the preparations for the elections, Dutta said that one IGP would look after Kokrajhar and Chirang districts, one will look after Baska district and the other will keep watch on Udalguri district. He said that considering the past experience of violence during polls in the BTC area, adequate precautionary measures have been taken with additional deployment of forces and so far, barring a few minor incidents of violence, no major incident was reported from any part of the area. He said that the police and security forces have been asked to launch a special drive to seize all the illegal weapons in the run up to the polls on April 9.
The State Election Commissioner said that he personally visited all the four districts and held meetings with leaders of political parties and officers concerned and hoped that the polls should pass off peacefully. He revealed that 26 magistrates from other parts of the State have been posted in the BTC area for law and order duty, while, the existing magistrates of the four districts of the BTC are kept free from election duties so that they can concentrate on maintaining law and order.
Dutta said that all the 2678 polling stations of the BTC polls are considered sensitive and steps have been taken accordingly. The polling stations identified as more sensitive will be given fixed security pickets, while, the less sensitive polling stations will be covered by mobile patrolling. About 15 to 20 polling stations will comprise one zone and security of each zone will be monitored by either one DSP or Inspector of police. Each polling party will be given security cover, while, all the candidates have been given two PSOs each.
The State Election Commission has appointed 10 senior Government officials as poll observers. The observers are either IAS or senior ACS officers and they moved out to the areas under them on March 21.
Dutta revealed that of the 40 constituencies of the BTC, 30 are reserved for STs, five are reserved for non-tribals and the remaining five are open for all. Altogether 18,62,435 voters will exercise their franchise in the polls to the BTC. As many as 198 candidates are in the fray. The ruling Bodoland People�s Front (BPF) has fielded candidates in all the 40 constituencies, while, the Congress has fielded candidates in 23 constituencies, BJP in eight, AGP in nine, CPM in five and Trinamul Congress has fielded candidates in three constituencies. As many as 110 independent candidates are in fray for the polls. Dutta pointed out that the number of independent candidates increased as the candidates of the Bodoland People�s Progressive Front (BPPF) are contesting as independents as the party is not a recognized one.
The State Election Commissioner said that eight strong rooms have been set up for keeping the ballot boxes and adequate security measures are in place for ensuring security of the boxes. Replying to a question on the decision to use ballot papers instead of electronic voting machines, Dutta said that the ballot boxes were available and when the Commission was given the responsibility of conducting the polls, the time available was too short to bring in EVMs.
