Imphal, May 26 : The Okram Ibobi Singh government has taken elaborate security measures for the first phase of the autonomous district council (ADC) elections in three districts tomorrow, in the wake of an agitation by Naga organizations.
The All Naga Students Association, Manipur, had imposed an indefinite economic blockade along two prime supply routes to the state since April 11 against holding of ADC elections.
The United Naga Council (UNC), the apex body of the Naga community in Manipur, have lent support to the blockade. The Naga bodies feel that the powers given to the councils are not enough to protect the interests of the indigenous communities.
Chandel and Churachandpur districts and Sadar Hills in Senapati district will go to the polls in the first phase tomorrow while Senapati, Tamenglong and Ukhrul districts will go to the elections in the second phase on June 2.
While the polls are expected to be peaceful in Churachandpur and Sadar Hills in Senapati district, government authorities, including the State Election Commission, are apprehending trouble in Chandel, a district dominated by the Naga community.
The Chandel Naga Civil Society Co-ordination Core Committee had called a 48-hour bandh beginning yesterday midnight in Chandel district to boycott the polls.
The state government has sought the help of the central paramilitary forces, including the Assam Rifles, and the army for the first phase.
State director-general of police Yumnam Joykumar Singh said central paramilitary forces would be deployed to ensure free and fair polling tomorrow.
“We will use both the state and central paramilitary forces for smooth conduct of the polls tomorrow. We have taken elaborate security measures to prevent any disruption,” the police chief told this correspondent.
Each council has 24 members each. In Sadar Hills, 12 candidates have been declared elected uncontested, nine in Churachandpur and 12 in Chandel.
Voters will exercise their franchise in 82 polling stations in Sadar Hills, 85 booths in Churachandpur district and 60 booths in Chandel districts. In Sadar Hills, 58,484 people will cast their votes while 1,15,793 voters will exercise their franchise in Churachandpur. In Chandel, 43,706 people will cast their votes.
Official sources said two sections (comprising 20 to 22 personnel) of CRPF and BSF would man each of the polling booths.
Police, Assam Rifles and army personnel will carry out area domination exercises during the polls.
In another development, Tangkhul civil society bodies have called a 72-hour Ukhrul district bandh from May 31 midnight to boycott the second phase of the ADC elections.
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