By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The habitual drunkenness of people in certain polling stations in the State has resulted in the Election Department marking them as sensitive.
There are a total of 2485 polling stations in Meghalaya which are categorized as normal, sensitive and hyper sensitive based on various factors.
Nearly half of the polling stations (1222) are problematic ones as they fall under either hyper sensitive or sensitive categories.
Among the 2485 polling booths, some are categorized as sensitive due to the drinking habits of the people residing around the polling stations.
Meghalaya is not a dry state and liquor is available even on polling day though there is official ban on sale of liquor on voting day.
A senior government official said that there are localities which have witnessed nuisance due to the drunkenness of people and hence the Election Department had to categorize some areas as sensitive polling stations.
Some polling stations are categorized as sensitive due to the ‘encroachment’ of elephants in polling stations, mostly in Garo Hills.
In the past, there have been cases of destruction of houses and paddy fields in Garo Hills and Ri Bhoi due to the rampage caused by wild elephants. Some of the areas are adjacent to the polling stations. There were also cases of polling agents facing the wrath of wild elephants in previous elections.
“We expect the wild elephants also to follow the model code of conduct,” Chief Electoral Officer P Naik said in a lighter vain.
Besides, there are 348 polling stations which are sensitive due to the history of group clashes and other sorts of unrest.
There are as many as 412 hyper sensitive polling stations mostly in Garo Hills due to militancy involving GNLA.
The ANVC has signed a draft ceasefire agreement with the Government but the GNLA is active all over Garo Hills and also in parts of West Khasi Hills.
Moreover, 462 polling stations were also declared as hyper sensitive due to the nature of group clash especially in Jaintia Hills.
The number of normal and peaceful polling stations in the State is 1263.