Tripura tightens security ahead of council polls

 Agartala, May 2: Security along the India-Bangladesh border and inter-state border with Assam and Mizoram would be further tightened to ensure trouble-free elections to the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) on May 3, officials said here on Saturday.

 Polling will be held on Sunday for the 30-seat TTAADC, whose jurisdiction covers two-thirds of Tripura’s 10,491.69 sq. km. territory.

 “In view of the elections in TTAADC, extreme vigil would be maintained by the central-paramilitary force, state police and BSF (Border Security Force) across the state and along the inter-state and intertiol borders,” Inspector general of police (law and order) Anurag told reporters.

 He said said around 13,000 security personnel including BSF and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), have been deployed to ensure the trouble free polling from 7 a.m. in the Sunday morning.

 “Around 7,000 Tripura State Rifles, 4,000 Tripua Police, over 1,200 central-paramilitary force have been deployed in the election bound and adjoining areas. Besides, 300 forest guards and 400 Home Guards were deployed for the election,” he said.

 Anurag said: “We are keen to hold free, fair and peaceful elections in the TTAADC and also to maintain security along the state’s borders to prevent entry of any inimical elements.”  The official also said that the state government has asked the BSF authority to deploy additiol troopers along the India-Bangladesh borders and further tighten the vigil in the frontiers.

 The IG (law and order) said special security measures are being taken — especially in the areas where the border is unfenced.

 “BSF has been asked to intensify Npatrolling along the border round-the-clock. The TSR have intensified operations as a second line of defence.”

 He said the Mobile Task Force (MTF) personnel have been deployed in several locations within Tripura to detect the presence of any illegal infiltration into the state and also for deportation of any person, if detained.  Tripura shares an 856-km border with Bangladesh and some parts of the border still remain unfenced.

 The mountainous terrain, dense forests and other hindrances make the border porous and vulnerable, ebling illegal immigrants, militants and intruders cross over without any hurdle.  The northeastern state also shares a 53-km border with Assam and a 109-km border with Mizoram.  With 175 candidates in the fray, Sunday’s electoral battle is likely to witness a multi-cornered contest which is being seen as a mini-general assembly polls in India’s only Left-ruled state.  State Election Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Rakesh said a total of 758,554 electors, including 375,117 women, are eligible to vote.  According to Rakesh, besides, four tiol political parties — Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), Communist Party of India (CPI), Congress and Bharatiya Jata Party (BJP) — several local parties including Trimool Congress have fielded their candidates for the elections to the tribal-domited autonomous body.

 He also said that for the first time, EVMs (electronic voting machines) will used in the TTAADC polls. (IANS)