SHILLONG: The State Election Department has sought 10 companies of additional security forces, besides the 5 companies of Special Force (SF-10), to be deployed in the Garo Hills and West Khasi Hills districts.
The request came on the heels of the brutal murder of NCP candidate Jonathone Sangma at a village in Williamnagar.
The government has decided to deploy additional companies of Central Armed Paramilitary Forces in all vulnerable areas in the state.
A day after the gruesome blast that claimed Jonathone’s life, the overall security situation in the state was reviewed at a high-level meeting attended by the additional chief secretary-in-charge of home affairs, the DIG and other senior officers.
A statement issued by the commissioner and secretary of the political department said a deputy inspector general will be exclusively stationed in Williamnagar to supervise the ongoing operations against militants.
The DG has proceeded to the Garo Hills for an intensive review of the security scenario and to intensify combing operations in the vulnerable areas.
In addition, the deputy commissioners and superintendents of police of all the districts have been instructed to review and assess the security requirements of all the contesting candidates. Besides, the intelligence machinery has been geared up to prevent the recurrence of violent incidents.
Magisterial probe
Meanwhile, the State Election Department has apprised the Election Commission about the brutal killing of the NCP candidate from Williamnagar.
A communiqué from the EC about the new date for holding the election in the constituency is still awaited. However, a magisterial inquiry into the killing will be initiated in three weeks’ time.
