Manipur to ask for more poll security

Imphal, Oct. 14 : Manipur is seeking 426 companies of central paramilitary forces for deployment during the upcoming Assembly elections for smooth conduct of polls which is likely to be held in February next year.

This is in addition to more than 6,500 state police forces which will be available for election security duties.

The Ibobi Singh government’s term will end in the fi-rst week of March and the sta-te election office is preparing to ensure trouble-free polling.

“We have calculated that at least 426 companies of central paramilitary forces will be required for the smooth conduct of the poll. We will request the Election Commission to provide this strength,” chief electoral officer P.C. Lawmkunga told reporters today.

The chief electoral officer is expected to raise this demand when the Election Commission will convene a meeting on October 17 in Delhi. It will be attended by officials and political parties of states which will go to the polls early next year.

The strength of central paramilitary forces being sought is nearly double the strength used during the last Assembly election in 2007. Only 220 companies of central forces were deployed during the last elections then.

The election official said two sections (each section comprising 20 to 22 personnel) of the central forces would be deployed at hyper-sensitive polling stations, one section at sensitive booths and one or half section at normal polling stations. The total number of polling stations is 2,357 and number of voters 16,76,597 including 851,390 female voters.

Election officials are “anticipating” trouble in an unprecedented manner during this election.

Though the Election Commission is yet to announce the election schedule, there were reports of hectic campaign by aspiring candidates. There are also reports of use of guns in the campaign. The election office asked deputy commissioners of all the nine districts and additional deputy commissioners of Sadar Hills and Jiribam subdivision to submit the number of gun licence holders in their respective administrative areas.

The licence holders are expected to be told to deposit their weapons before the elections to the offices of the respective deputy commissioners. The officials were also asked to submit the list of the sensitive polling stations in their areas.

An election call centre was opened today at the office of the chief electoral officer at the state secretariat and control rooms at the offices of the deputy commissioners.

“If anyone wants any election-related information or wants to file complaints, he or she could call the control rooms,” Lawmkunga said.