Security beefed up in poll run-up: DGP

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, Feb 26: Altogether 4,000 non-bailable warrants have been executed in the run-up to the assembly elections and another 6,000 were pending, DGP Mukesh Sahay said today.

Briefing reporters on the steps taken by police to ensure free and fair elections, Sahay said altogether 83 arms, 810 rounds of ammunition, 47 gredes and 800 gms of explosives have been recovered during separate operations so far this year.

Stating that the police was acting on the guidelines framed by the Election Commission of India, he said, “According to estimates, more than 50 per cent of the polling booths are safe. Some 8,000 are sensitive, while another 3,000 are hyper-sensitive. Out of 3,000 hyper-sensitive, about 1,000 are critical.” Assam Police was working in close tandem with its counterparts of neighbouring states, particularly Meghalaya and galand, to ensure that militants operating from the bordering states do not disrupt the elections, he said.  “A meeting was held with Meghalaya Police. We have decided to share real-time intelligence. Similar coordition is being maintained with police in galand, Aruchal, Mizoram and Manipur,” he said.

He said Assam Police was keeping a close watch on the developments in the neighbouring states, particularly Meghalaya where a large cache of explosives were recovered over the last two days.

Similarly, police is also vigilant in the Upper Assam districts which share borders with galand from where the ULFA and NSCN(K) militants were launching joint strikes.   “Militancy is down but not out. Though there is no direct threat at the moment, we are not taking any chances,” the DGP added.