60,000 Troops In Chhattisgarh, 50 Companies Of CPF In Mizoram As Security Tightened Ahead Of Polls

Drones and helicopters will be used to monitor Naxal activity. According to the police, a bomb disposal team and a dog squad will also be called in.

Representational Image.

Source : Getty

More than 600 voting stations in dangerous regions of Naxal-hit Bastar division, which will vote in the first round of Chhattisgarh assembly elections on Tuesday, will be protected by three layers of security, according to police, news agency PTI reported. Around 60,000 security troops, 40,000 from the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and 20,000 from the state police, have been deployed to ensure the peaceful conduct of elections in the Bastar division, which has 12 assembly seats, they added. Members of the elite anti-Naxal unit CoBRA, as well as women commandos, will be part of the security apparatus, according to the police.

According to them, 149 voting locations in the division's five assembly seats have been relocated to the nearest police station and security camps for security considerations.

Drones and helicopters will be used to monitor Naxal activity. According to the police, a bomb disposal team and a dog squad will also be called in.

The 90-member state legislature will be elected in two stages on November 7 and 17.

The first phase will involve voting in 20 constituencies, including 12 assembly seats in the Bastar division.

Voting in Antagarh, Bhanupratappur, Kanker, Keshkal, Kondagaon, Narayanpur, Dantewada, Bijapur, and Konta will take place from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesday, while the remaining three seats - Bastar, Jagdalpur, and Chitrakot - will take place between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Sundarraj P, Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range), said in a statement on Sunday that a complete security plan has been established for the assembly elections in Bastar division.

“Central paramilitary forces and special forces like District Reserve Guard, Special Task Force, Bastar Fighters (all units of state police) and CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action - an elite unit of CRPF) have been deployed for security of polling station and roads,” the statement was quoted by PTI in its report.

On the tightened security ahead of the first phase of Chhattisgarh Assembly Elections tomorrow, Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki's District Collector S. Jaivardhan said: "All preparations are complete as far as security is concerned for the polling that will take place tomorrow. Enough force is deployed in the sensitive areas. We also made sure that the distribution process was complete by 12 pm... We also visited some polling stations where polling parties have reached."

#WATCH | Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki: On the tightened security ahead of the first phase of Chhattisgarh Assembly Elections tomorrow, District Collector S. Jaivardhan says, "All preparations are complete as far as security is concerned for the polling that will take place… pic.twitter.com/4jKFOVYlzp

— ANI (@ANI) November 6, 2023

Bastar IG P Sundarraj said: "In Bijapur district, an incident of arson took place in a garment factory, between last night and today early morning... Prima facie, seems to be an act of some mischievous elements. CCTV footage from factory premises has been seized and is being analysed. Action will be taken soon against whoever is behind this..."

Security Arrangements Ahead Of Mizoram Polls

Mizoram's security has been beefed up ahead of the Assembly elections. The voting teams arrived at their polling locations in Mizoram on Monday, amid enhanced security preparations for the Assembly elections.

"Polling parties left for their respective polling stations in Mizoram on Monday ahead of the assembly elections," they said.

Saizikpuii, Additional Deputy Commissioner, said while speaking to ANI, "The polling parties are collecting their EVMs and polling materials... Security personnel will go with each polling party. Every security arrangement has been made..."

In Mizoram, around 8.52 lakh people will decide the destiny of 174 candidates. 

According to the Mizoram Chief Electoral Officer's office, 8,52,088 voters, comprising 4,13,064 male and 4,39,028 female voters, would cast ballots at 1276 polling places. 

#WATCH | Aizawl: On security arrangements and forces deployment for elections, Mizoram DGP Anil Shukla says, "Our polling parties along with the police deployment have reached most of the polling stations... As far as the security situation is concerned, Mizoram remains a… pic.twitter.com/uznODIXvrf

— ANI (@ANI) November 6, 2023

Mizoram has 50,611 voters aged 18 to 19 who will be voting for the first time. The state has 8490 senior persons above the age of 80. Around 50 CAPF companies have been deployed throughout the state to ensure free and fair elections. 

The ECI has designated 30 voting places in the state as important polling places. There are just 26 voters at the 24 Thelep polling station, which is part of the 34th Thorang (ST) assembly seat. 

A number of 1481 voters are registered at 24 Zemabawk VIII polling stations within the 13 no. Aizawl East I (Gen) assembly constituency. According to ECI statistics, there are 14924 voters in the Thorang assembly constituency, which has the fewest voters, and 36,041 votes in the Tuichawng assembly constituency.

There are 181 polling stations in Lawngtlai District, including 70 in the 36-Tuichawng AC, 69 in the 37-Lawngtlai West AC, and 42 in the 38-Lawngtlai East AC. 

According to the Chief Electoral Officer of Mizoram, 30 voting stations out of 1276 in the state have been designated as crucial. To ensure a free and fair election, about 5000 poll workers will be stationed at voting places. On Sunday, the third and final randomization of polling parties for the Legislative Assembly election took place.

(With Inputs From Agencies)