By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The state government has tentatively projected to the Centre the requirement of additional 70 companies of Central paramilitary forces during the upcoming Assembly elections. A government official said on Monday that the demand for Central forces is more than the last Assembly elections due to the growing incidents of violence involving militants in Garo Hills. For the 2008 Assembly elections, the Government had sought 45 companies of additional Central paramilitary forces. However, at that point of time, Garo Hills was relatively peaceful as militant groups GNLA and ANVC (B) were not in existence. Both the GNLA and ANVC(B) were formed by the former leaders of parent organization, ANVC, under ceasefire since 2004. One company of Central paramilitary forces will consist of around 100 men and if the Centre sanctions the additional 70 companies of paramilitary forces, there will be 7,000 security men to maintain law and order during elections. However, the services of other security men and police personnel, who are engaged in anti-insurgency operations, would not be used for election duty. The Home department along with the Election department is also preparing the exact number of hyper sensitive and sensitive polling stations in the State. Besides many parts of Garo Hills, there are vulnerable areas in Jaintia Hills and West Khasi Hills.