State Government seeks more forces for Tura by-poll
FROM CORRESPONDENT
SHILLONG, April 24: The state election department has said that the Election Commission of India (ECI) may not necessarily order the transfer of Deputy Commissioners (DC) and Superintendents of Police (SP) of districts falling under the Tura Parliamentary constituency in the wake of the upcoming by-poll slated for May 16.
“Unlike the general elections, the Commission may not be so strict for a by-election,” newly appointed Meghalaya Chief Electoral Officer, Frederick Roy Kharkongor said.
As per election rules, in order to ensure free and fair conduct of elections, DCs and SPs who had served for three years in the respective districts where the election or by-election are to be held, should be transferred.
Meanwhile, it has also been reported that the state government has projected a requirement for around 30 companies of Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) for the by-election.
According to Kharkongor, apart from the security force available at present, an additiol requirement of over 30 companies of CAPF has been projected for the by-poll and the proposal has been sent to the Election Commission which will take up with the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Kharkongkor informed that the proposal was sent to the ECI on Friday.
Tura Parliamentary constituency falls under the insurgency hit Garo Hills region and a number of areas are militant-infested. The state police are currently engaged in Operation Hillstorm-3 which started on February 25 this year.
The state police had recently informed that it will continue the operations for the next six months.
“Additiol Commando Forces have been requisitioned from the government of India to sustain these operations during the forthcoming rainy season as well,” police had stated.
The five districts in Garo Hills will go to the by-election on May 16 which was necessitated following the demise of sitting MP and former Lok Sabha Speaker, Purno Agitok Sangma on March 4.
The Tura Lok Sabha seat has 24 assembly segments with 945 polling stations.
According to an electoral roll published on January 11 this year, the Tura Lok Sabha seat has a total of 6,22,189 voters - 3,15,255 males and 3,06,934 females.
