Assembly Elections Results 2023: Observers, CAPF Deployed As Meghalaya, Tripura, Nagaland Gear Up For Vote Counting

In Meghalaya, the Election Commission of India has set up 13 counting centres and the security at all EVM strong rooms has been strengthened with up to three layers of security in place.

Security beefed up ahead of counting day in Meghalaya, Tripura and Nagaland

New Delhi: Vote counting in the northeastern states of Tripura, Meghalaya, and Nagaland will take place under heavy security on Thursday. Nagaland and Meghalaya underwent assembly elections on February 27. Tripura went to polls on February 16 to elect all 60 members of the Legislative Assembly.

In Meghalaya, the Election Commission of India has set up 13 counting centres and the security at all EVM strong rooms has been strengthened with up to three layers of security in place, according to ANI.

FR Kharkongor, Chief Electoral Officer, Meghalaya told ANI, "We have set up 13 counting centres in all 12 districts and in one Sub-Division. 27 counting observers and 500 micro observers have been deployed for the counting of votes. We have made all arrangements."

Swapnil Tembe, Deputy Commissioner of West Garo Hills district told ANI that the counting halls are ready and the required security personnel are there.

"The people who will do the counting have already been trained. There is a standard protocol of ECI for security and three layers of security is there. Every counting hall, we have 10 tables and three people are against each table and there are 11 assembly constituencies in West Garo Hills district," Swapnil Tembe said.

In Tripura, the counting of votes will be held tomorrow in 21 centres meant for 60 Assembly constituencies. Three-tier security arrangements have been made for the counting at all counting centres, ANI reported.

Sadar Sub-divisional police officer Ajay Kumar Das said that the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the state police are checking the law and order situation round the clock before the counting day.

"On the day of counting, we will have a lot many police personnel in a civil dress so that if any untoward incident happens they should immediately check on that. Different entry and exit points are there so that identity of every entering person is thoroughly checked and verified. Separate Zone has been provided to the different political party supporters for their wait for the results of the concerned candidates. Police picketing would be there near all the political party offices including the vulnerable and sensitive areas," he told ANI.

According to Das, in the Sadar subdivision, 30 patrolling vehicles are there in which CRPF senior Officers should be present to monitor, supervise, and have a strong vigil 24x7.

While speaking to ANI, West Tripura District Superintendent of Police (SP) Sankar Debnath said that the counting would be very peaceful like the voting was conducted under high-security arrangements.

"In Umakanta Academy of Agartala, counting of 14 constituencies has been arranged. All arrangements have been measured so that no problem with counting agents, and political party workers till the result declaration takes place. We have a sufficient number of forces like CRPF, TSR, and district police personnel in plain cloth, uniform and civil dresses. As the polling accomplished throughout the state very peacefully, the counting should also be very peaceful," Debnath said.

In Nagaland, a total of 16 counting centres have been set up and the ECI has deployed counting observers besides general observers to monitor the entire counting process in the state.

EVMs are being kept under CCTV surveillance and three-layer security measures have been put in place in and around the counting centres.