Manipur seeks more forces

Imphal, Feb. 12: The Okram Ibobi Singh government is seeking nearly 90 companies of additional central paramilitary forces for smooth and violent-free conduct of the Lok Sabha elections in the state.

The state election office will make this demand to the Election Commission in a report about the state’s poll preparedness, which is likely to be sent in the next few days. “We will seek 86 additional companies of central paramilitary forces. If this strength is given with the state’s own forces and existing paramilitary forces, we can manage a trouble-free election in both the Outer and Inner Manipur seats,” an official source said.

The source said state police, India Reserve Battalion and Manipur Rifles would also be engaged in election security.

In the 2004 Lok Sabha elections, the state used 216 companies of paramilitary forces with additional 76 companies provided by the Centre. The election was by and large peaceful, the official said.

Though the state’s 2,193 polling stations are yet to be categorised, the election official said most of them were hypersensitive and sensitive. Intelligence reports suggest that militants might try to disrupt the polls in both the constituencies. “With almost all the militant groups belonging to tribal communities having a suspension of operation agreement with the Centre and state governments, cadres of these groups may take part in the election campaign in favour of one or other candidates, creating problems in the process,” a home department official said.

The state election office is expected to recommend two phase polls in the state. “This will make the job of security arrangements easier,” the source said. 

The state election office will also request the Election Commission for four helicopters to ferry election officials and poll materials in the interior areas in the hills.

“In the last Lok Sabha elections we used four choppers. This time also we will require the same number of choppers for timely deployment of personnel and collection of the poll materials after polling is over,” the source said.

The election office will also request the Election Commission to provide at least 15 motorboats for transportation of poll materials and officials for polling stations located at Tipaimukh of Churachandpur district and Vangai range of Tamenglong district.

The source said the state election office would recommend holding of the elections in the two seats before April 15, before the onset of monsoon. Political parties are also favouring polls around this time.

“We are preparing a report about the preparation and requirements of the state. We will send it to the Election Commission in the next few days,” an election official said.