SHILLONG, FEB 19: The state election department has sought 10 additional companies of paramilitary forces besides deployment of 5 companies of SF-10 in the militancy infested Garo Hills region following the killing of an NCP candidate.
A report will also be sent to the Election Commission of India for recommendation to adjourn the poll in Williamnagar constituency in view of the death of a candidate for the February 27 Assembly elections.
Jonathone N Sangma, candidate of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) was one among the four including a former GNLA leader were killed in an IED ambushed in a remote village across the Simsang river on Sunday night.
According to officials, the village, which is about 14 kilometers away from Samanda Block is also considered as sensitive in view that it is an area which is infested by militants.
“Another 10 additional companies of CAPF will be sought for exclusively deployment for area domination in Garo Hills as well as West Khasi Hills District,” state’s chief electoral officer FR Kharkongor told journalists here on Monday.
He said that the decision was taken at a high level meeting convened by the Additional Chief Secretary MS Rao and attended by the CEO, additional CEO, Director General of Police (DGP), Addl DG for taking measures to instill confident on the voters especially in Garo Hills.
Informing that 5 companies of SF-10, anti-militancy force will also be deployed in Garo Hills for ensuring peaceful conduct of the coming elections, Kharkongor said that intensive combing operation against militancy has already been initiated.
He said that the security aspect in the region is being supervised by the director general of police SB Singh while the DIG Western Range and another senior police officer are also stationed in Williamnagar, the district headquarter of East Garo Hills.
“Any candidate can contact the district election officer (DEO) if they have any security concern and the same will be provided to them on a case to case basis depending on the threat perception,” Kharkongor informed.
The chief electoral officer further informed that the Additional Director General of Police will also hold an intelligence high level meeting to ensure input sharing is pro-active so that confident is instill in the hearts and minds of the voters.
Stating that the district election officer is still waiting for the report from the returning officer for sending it to the ECI, Kharkongor said, “My report as the CEO has already gone to the ECI for adjournment of the poll in Williamnagar and decision of the ECI is awaited.”
According to him, there is a process for adjournment of the poll in case of any death whether natural or unnatural death of a candidate adding the normally the poll will have to be conducted within a period of six months.
Asked, the CEO said that the particular candidate (Jonathone) was infact given additional security following the FIR filed by the deputy commissioner and the returning officer after receiving complaint from individuals about posters which warned voters not to vote for him.
He said that the complaint about these posters that were pasted in certain villages at the outskirts of Williamnagar town was received since February 16.
In 2013 too, the GNLA had threatened to attack people supporting Jonathone Sangma and had also floated posters threatening them. He had previously also received similar threats from the outfit.
Reacting to a query, the CEO however said that the incident had taken place in an area which is their (GNLA) stronghold but nothing conclusive can be stated at the moment as he is still waiting for the police report on the incident.
Out of 107 proposed, the Ministry of Home Affairs had sanctioned 100 companies of paramilitary forces for the poll-bound state. The CEO said that of these, 28 companies are there in the state and the remaining companies will be arriving from Tripura shortly.
By Our Reporter
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