Shillong, Feb 19: The Meghalaya election department is waiting for announcement of fresh date of election for Williamnagar Assembly seat as the poll slated for February 27 has to be countermanded after the killing of NCP candidate, Jonathone N. Sangma on Sunday.
A report on the death of the NCP candidate was sent to the Election Commission of India by the Chief Electoral Officer, F.R. Kharkongor.
Kharkongor said that countermanding of election in Williamnagar constituency and announcement of fresh date will be decided by the Commission soon.
Kharkongor said that 10 additional companies of Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) has been sought from the Centre to be deployed in Garo Hills especially in militant-infested areas to ensure free, fair and peaceful conduct of Assembly polls on February 27.
More security forces would be also deployed in areas under West Khasi hills district bordering Garo Hills.
The decision to seek more CAPF from the Centre was taken during a high-level meeting chaired by additional chief secretary (Home), M.S. Rao here.
Another 80 companies of CAPF sanctioned for Meghalaya would arrive from Tripura this week.
Intensive combing operations have already been initiated in the area where the incident had taken place and the DGP has also rushed to the spot supervising the operations personally.
Kharkongor said that in addition to the DIG (Western range), another DIG level officer will be permanently stationed at Williamnagar till the election process is completed.
Five companies of the state’s Special Force- 10 specially trained in tackling militancy will be deployed for election related security duties in order to instill confidence among the people and strengthen the security arrangements in the area.
Kharkongor said that candidate can also contact district election officers or superintendents of police for any security concerns for providing necessary security as and when the need arises on a case to case basis.
A high-level intelligence review meeting was also convened by the state chief police nodal officer involving all Central and state intelligence agencies in the context of the recent developments.
Kharkongor said that security was provided to the NCP candidate in which two personal security officers (PSOs) were given due to threat to his life.
Kharkongor said that security cover was enhanced for Sangma after a complaint was received from some individuals on February 16 stating that miscreants had pasted posters in villages like Damagre, Nengkhra, Jisobibra, Chimagre, Samanda and Dolwarigre under Williamnagar constituency warning people not vote for the NCP candidate.
Kharkongor however said that security measures have been taken to ensure free, fair and peaceful conduct of polls and instill people’s confidence.
Polling stations under Williamnagar constituency and other constituencies in East Garo Hills district and South Garo Hills district are militant-infested and considered as highly vulnerable and critical.
