BTAD tense as polls near

From our Correspondent

Kokrajhar, April 1:  The Union Home Ministry today reviewed the situation in BTAD in the run-up to the BTC polls

An MHA team led by Sambhu Singh, Joint Secretary (NE), Ministry of Home Affairs visited Kokrajhar and reviewed the security apparatus with top officials of police and paramilitary officials.

Senior officials from the civil administration, police, army, SSB, BSF and CRPF were present at the meeting held at Kokrajhar Circuit House.  It was attended, among others, by SN Singh, IGP, Law and Order, Assam and Kishor Jha, Additiol Director General of CRPF.

Talking to mediapersons, Singh said the purpose of the visit was to study the ground situation during elections and also to know the perception of the security forces on the law-and-order situation. He said that Home department has taken proper security measures for the upcoming BTC polls and the security forces were geared up to handle any kind of situation.

Singh said that polling should be peaceful and people should be able to vote freely. He urged the security forces to be vigilant. Singh said that additiol central security forces have been deployed since the past three months.

When asked about the operation against NDFB (Songbijit), he said it will continue.

SN Singh, IGP, Law and Order, said the Central government as well as the State government were taking steps to ensure free and fair polls in the BTAD areas. A large number of additiol security forces have already been deployed, he said.

Meanwhile, at least four supporters of People’s Coordition Democratic Rights (PCDR) backed independent candidate from Suklai Serfang constituency, Ronen rzary, were injured,  when they were physically assaulted allegedly by supporters of BPF candidate Ganesh Kachari  at Oubari area under Suagpur police station in Baksa district on Wednesday.

According to police sources, the four youthswere campaigning for the PCDR backed candidate in the area when some goons, allegedly BPF supporters, came and attacked them with sticks, thus injuring them. The injured were first taken to ukata Health Centre but later shifted to Guwahati Medical College and Hospital. The injured have been identified as Ramesh Boro, Shymal Brahma, Jaten Mushahary and Juguru Mushahary.

Police have detained sitting BTC executive member and BPF candidate from Suklai Serfang constituency, Ganesh Kachari, and PCDR backed independent candidate Ronen rzary at Suagpur police station for questioning.

Stray incidents of violence were also reported yesterday from Chirang.