Election officials visit Ukhrul, Kamjong to assess poll preparedness

IMPHAL — Ahead of the 18th Lok Sabha elections, N Praveen Singh, Additional Chief Electoral Officer of the Outer Manipur Parliamentary Constituency, along with K Bono, the Joint Secretary of the Election Department, visited Ukhrul and convened a meeting with the deputy commissioners of Ukhrul and Kamjong districts.

The purpose of the meeting, held on Sunday at the DC’s conference hall in Ukhrul, was to assess the election preparations. Nodal officers from both districts attended the meeting, where they presented PowerPoint presentations on the assigned tasks.

These tasks encompassed various aspects such as manpower, training, computerisation, material management, SVEEP (systematic voters’ education and electoral participation), law and order, EVMs (electronic voting machines), MCC (model code of conduct), expenditure, ballot and ETPBS (electronically transmitted postal ballot system), media, communication plan, electoral rolls, complaint redressal and voter helplines, among others.

It was informed during the meeting that transport requirements for Ukhrul district, which comprises two assembly segments, include 414 vehicles, both heavy and light. Of these, 353 vehicles have already been requisitioned.

The remaining 61 vehicles are expected to be ready soon. Regarding law and order, it has been reported that out of the 145 poll stations in Ukhrul district, 17 have been identified as critical, 48 as vulnerable, and 80 as normal for the two segments.

A total of 13 companies from the central forces will be deployed, consisting of 10 BSF companies and 3 CISF companies. Additionally, 547 police personnel and 357 Village Defence Force/Home Guards from the state will also be deployed.

So far, the police department of the district has seized 761 litres of Indian made foreign liquor (including whisky, rum, and beer) valued at INR 3.51 lakh, 1,675 litres of distilled indigenous country liquor valued at INR 3.36 lakh, and 100 kilogrammes of yeast valued at INR 6,000.

Vehicular fines collected under the Motor Vehicle Act amount to INR 4,000, while cash seized totals INR 13,11,130. Also, the police have seized three arms, 204 rounds of ammunition/cartridges, and one explosive so far.

Meanwhile, Kamjong, with one assembly segment, has 14 women and one model polling station out of 78 total polling stations. The district will deploy 312 polling personnel and use 261 vehicles, both heavy and light.

The two districts will go to the polls on April 26.