Amapti, May 2:The South West Garo Hills district is gearing up for the by-election to the 2-Tura Parliamentary constituency to be held on 16 this month, next and preparations to the minutest detail are being made to ensure smooth conduct of election.
The Deputy Commissioner and District Election Officer, South West Garo Hills, Ampati, Ram Singh, has stated that no stone should be left unturned to ensure free, fair and peaceful election in all the three Assembly segments falling under the district.
It may be mentioned that there are altogether 110 polling stations under the three Assembly segments – 53-Ampati, 54-Mahendraganj and 55-Salmanpara –with a total electorate of 78813, including general and service voters. Seventeen polling stations have been categorized as sensitive. As per law and order arrangement, the district is divided into four zone and 24 sectors and the district police has made arrangements for mobile patrolling units with GOs and police sector officers. It has also sought for additional force for coming by-election.
From the time of the announcement of the by-election, rounds of meetings and trainings have been held for the district officials including the police associated with the conduct of elections as well as service providers like BSNL, PHE and MeECL for uninterrupted service during the election. Physical verification of polling stations have been carried out and first round of training for all polling personnel have been completed last week, while the second round of trainings will resume from May 4, next.
Flying squads assisted by Static Surveillance Teams (SSTs) and Videography and Viewing Teams (VVTs) have been activated and operation since the past week to ensure full compliance of the Model Code of Conduct and Complaint Monitoring Control Room and Call Centre with landline no. 03651-261206 has been activated for complaints relating to violation of the Model Code.
The district also participated in the joint meeting of the Deputy Commissioner, West Garo Hills & Returning Officer, 2-Tura LS constituency with the Deputy Commissioner of Goalpara district, Assam, held at Tura last week, in connection with dual voters, etc.
Meanwhile, the General Observer for the South West Garo Hills and South Garo Hills, Alka Shrivastav, IAS, who arrived in Ampati on April 28, last, has been visiting and inspecting the polling stations and also reviewed the level of preparedness for the coming election in the district.
Various committees and cells constituted for the conduct of election in the district are as follows: Polling Personnel & Training Cell i/c Ms. M.T. Sangma, ADC, Ampati; Transport Cell, Expenditure Monitoring Cell, Law & Order Cell, etc., i/c Mr. P. K. Boro, ADC, Ampati; Material Cell, Catering Cell, etc., i/c Ms. H.D.B. Sangma, ADC, Ampati; Postal Ballot/EDC Cell i/c Ms. W.R.G. Momin; while the following Magistrates along with the designated police officers are in charge of the Flying Squads and Static Surveillance Teams: Ampati – Mr. A.G. Momin, BDO, Betasing & Inspector W. R. Marak; Mahendraganj – Mr. Reuben Ch. Momin, BDO, Zikzak & Inspector Clever D. Shira; and Salmanpara – Ms. F. Boro, EAC & Inspector Govind Kr. Chettri.
Meanwhile, it has been informed that the meeting with the officers and staff for commissioning of EVMs will be held on May 3, 2016, while randomization of EVMs, second randomization of polling personnel, first-level checking of EVMs, randomization and training of Micro Observers, etc would be done in the next few days.
