GUWAHATI, May 22 - An elaborate security plan has been chalked out to maintain law and order not only on the day of counting of votes of the Lok Sabha polls but also to ensure that no post poll violence takes place in any part of Assam. The Central forces withdrawn from the State after the three phase polls, have also started returning, which has given more teeth to the security arrangements.
Talking to The Assam Tribune, Director General of Police, Kula Saikia said that an integrated security plan involving police and security agencies have been chalked out to ensure that the process of counting of votes pass off peacefully. He also appealed to all sections of people to maintain peace not only on the day of counting of votes but also in the aftermath of the declaration of results. �The people of Assam cooperated with the police to ensure violence free elections and we hope to receive same level of cooperation tomorrow when the counting of votes will take place,� he said.
Meanwhile, police sources said that more than 100 companies of Central forces were withdrawn from Assam after the polls so that they can be deployed in other parts of the country on election duty. But as assured by the Centre earlier, those forces have started returning to the State and the personnel of the Central forces are deployed as per requirement considering the sensitivity of areas. The return of the forces is a welcome development and an elaborate security plan could be chalked out accordingly, sources added.
A multi layer security cover involving the Central force personnel has been provided to the counting halls and police sources expressed confidence that no untoward incident would take place in any of the halls. Sources pointed out that as the winning candidates and political parties would bring out victory processions, adequate security arrangements have been made to ensure that no violence takes place in such rallies.
As possibility of post poll violence in certain pockets of Assam cannot be ruled out, the district superintendents of police have been directed to identify the vulnerable pockets and to keep a close watch on the situation. The SPs have also been asked to hold talks with the local level leaders of political parties and different communities and to take strong action against any trouble monger. The SPs have also been directed to augment the process of intelligence gathering so that preemptive measures can be taken to ensure maintenance of law and order. The village defence parties have also been activated all over the State.
It may be mentioned here that the level of pre poll and poll day violence came down drastically in Assam this year compared to the previous elections and only 45 poll related cases were registered this year compared to more than 200 during the Assembly elections in 2016.
