From Our Correspondent
Agartala: Of the total polling stations- 3018, altogether 32 polling stations have been identified as hyper sensitive (A+) while the number of sensitive booths stands at 113 (A), according to highly placed sources.
As many as 656 booths have been identified as politically vulnerable (B) and remaining booths have been rated as normal. According to sources, the Dhalai district has maximum number of hyper sensitive and sensitive booths with 16 booths while North and Gomati have 7 and 5 respectively.
Two section of forces (16-24) would be deployed to guard each hyper sensitive booths while one and half section forces would guard sensitive booths. One section will guard politically vulnerable booths and half section of forces will be deployed in guarding normal booths.
Besides, there would be separate security arrangement outside the polling station, according to sources. As many as 260 additional companies of Central Paramilitary Forces have already been arrived in connection with election related duties. After the polling, only eight companies of CPMF will remain in the state to guard the strong rooms.
To ensure tight security, three choppers have already been hired to maintain air surveillance during the polling.
Talking to reporters at Civil Secretariat here on Tuesday, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Ashutosh Jindal said the Indo-Bangla border has been seated and till will remain enforced till February 15.
The BSF authority has already stepped up vigil along the state’s international border with Bangladesh.
On the postal ballots, Jindal said polling staff and security personnel would get another chance to cast their votes through postal ballots. So far 32,000 voters (postal ballots) have cast their votes out of total 50,000 votes.
The CEO further said four fully women-run polling stations would be set up for conducting polling. Khowai and Agartala will have two each women-run polling stations.
The month-long sweltering campaign ended on Tuesday at 4 pm and polling personnel will start for their respective polling stations on Wednesday.