A record number of over 20,000 security personnel comprising Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) and state force personnel have been deployed in Tripura for the elections to two Lok Sabha constituencies and the by-poll in one Assembly seat in the state, officials said here on Friday.
A top police officer said that with the direction of the Election Commission (EC), the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has already sent 84 companies (around 8,000 personnel) of CAPF comprising the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), which have already been deployed in all the eight districts of the state.
He said that besides the CAPF over 10,000 Tripura State Rifles (TSR) and a few thousand state police personnel are also being deployed for the elections scheduled on April 19 and April 26.
"The security forces are conducting area domination, confidence building measures patrolling to ensure normal law and order situation so that free, fair and violence free elections can be held," an official told IANS.
Tripura Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Puneet Agarwal said that earlier this week a "Mission Violence Free Election 2024" was launched in Tripura to ensure a 100 per cent violence-free election.
Agarwal said that ahead of the elections to the state's two Lok Sabha seats, 2,500 flag marches and area domination patrolling were conducted by the CAPF and the state forces since last month.
He said that various law enforcement agencies have seized various contraband items including drugs worth Rs 9 crore during the last month.
The CEO said that in the previous 17th Lok Sabha elections, 83 per cent voting was recorded and in the 18th Lok Sabha polls, the target is to exceed the 2019 turnout.
He said that under the ‘Systematic Voters Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP)' various socio-cultural events including drawing ‘Alpanas’, (a decorative design) are being organised to sensitise both new and old voters to cast their votes in large numbers.
Agarwal said that on the direction of the Election Commission, the concerned authorities have suspended six government employees including teachers and security personnel, who were directly involved with political activities.
The police as part of preventive arrests have also detained 12,000 persons across Tripura.
Polling for the Tripura West Parliamentary seat will be held on April 19 in the first of the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections, while the Tripura East (ST) constituency will go to the polls in the second phase on April 26.
The by-election to the Ramnagar Assembly seat will also be held on April 19. The seat fell vacant after the demise of sitting BJP MLA Surajit Datta on December 28 last year.
In the 18 candidates, including two women, are contesting on the two Lok Sabha seats while two candidates, one each of BJP and CPI-M, are trying their electoral fortunes in the Ramnagar Assembly by-poll.
In the Lok Sabha poll in two seats, the main contest is expected to be between the BJP and the INDIA bloc, comprising the Congress, CPI-M and six other parties.
Bihar farmers thank PM Modi for transferring PM KISAN instalment in their accounts
Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the 19th instalment of the PM-KISAN fund on Monday from Bihar’s Bhagalpur district, benefiting over 9.8 crore farmers across the country.
PM Modi, Amit Shah invited to inaugurate newly redeveloped 524-year-old Tripura Sundari temple
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to inaugurate the newly-redeveloped Tripura Sundari temple, one of the 51 Shakti Peethas worshipped by Hindus in southern Tripura’s Udaipur, a minister said here on Monday.
Woman sustained bullet injuries in Ambassa
A tribal woman sustained gunshot injuries in a shocking incident in a suburban area of Ambassa subdivision on Saturday morning. The victim, identified as Nilima Reang (27), was reportedly sitting at home making pachachara around 9 AM when she was suddenly shot.
Massive Fire turned house into ashes, one injured
A devastating fire broke out suddenly at the residence of Kamini Sarkar, father of police constable Dilip Sarkar, situated just four feet away from the boundary of Tripura University. The house was completely gutted in the blaze, reducing all belongings to ashes.
Four injured after vehicle falls into deep gorge
A tragic accident occurred this morning in Khasirai Para, Kanchanpur, when a passenger Commander jeep lost control and fell into a deep ditch. Four people, including two children, sustained serious injuries in the incident.
TRIPURA: Higher Secondary examination records 99.28% attendance
The Tripura Board of Secondary Education (TBSE) run Higher Secondary examination has begun in the state of Tripura from Monday amid tight security across the state.
73rd B.N. Mullik Memorial All India Police Football Championship begins, CM lauds Police's role
Tripura Chief Minister Prof. Dr. Manik Saha today lauded the role of Tripura Police in carrying out various social activities, apart from significantly improving the state's law and order situation.
Tripura to create, fill up 333 posts in various departments
The Tripura Government has announced plans to create and fill up 333 posts across multiple state departments. The decision was taken during a recent cabinet meeting and was revealed by Cabinet Spokesperson Sushanta Chowdhury at a press conference on Monday.