SHILLONG/GUWAHATI: Security has been beefed up in the inter-state and international border areas of Meghalaya as the state goes to polls for the first phase of the Lok Sabha election on Thursday.
Security forces along the “sensitive” border areas of Meghalaya have stepped up vigil even as ensuring safe communication to remote polling booths remains a challenge.
Areas such as Malangkona, Kamphadubi and Langpih in West Khasi Hills district, which share boundary with Kamrup district of Assam, are under strict surveillance.
By and large, peace has prevailed in the run-up to the polls.
Speaking to The Shillong Times on the eve of polls, West Khasi Hills superintendent of police BJ Laloo said the CRPF personnel along with state police were guarding the polling stations and the situation was peaceful.
“Security forces of both the states are on alert and ready to tackle any untoward situation along the border even as things have been peaceful. The inter-state boundary is not a problem. The main issue is the remoteness of some polling stations where safe and smooth accessibility have to be ensured,” Laloo said.
It may be mentioned that both the states had recently agreed to maintain status quo along the border areas ahead of the election and till the process was over.
The deputy commissioners of West Khasi Hills and Kamrup districts along with police officers met at Langpih, a sensitive border village, on March 27 and assured to facilitate peaceful election.
The West Khasi Hills district administration had also requested its counterparts in Assam to allow smooth passage of voters to the polling centres in Meghalaya through Assam.
“Accordingly, we have taken measures and the situation has been peaceful along the border areas of our district with no violations reported in regard to setting up polling stations,” Kamrup Deputy Commissioner Kamal Kumar Baishya said on Wednesday.
A team from Kamrup district administration visited Malang Hohua near Boko on the Assam-Meghalaya border to generate awareness on EVM and VVPAT among the villagers on Wednesday.
It may be recalled that a possible mob lynching incident was averted after a 16-member team from the Assam public health engineering (PHE) department was confronted and allegedly assaulted by a group of villagers at Malang Hohua in September last year.
The PHE team had gone to the village to inspect the water quality of a scheme that incidentally catered to the residents of the area.
Meanwhile, patrolling along the Indo-Bangladesh border in Meghalaya will be intensified on Thursday.
A Border Security Force (BSF) official said the domination of BSF is already there and patrolling will be intensified along the border to ensure that voting takes place smoothly in the state.
Earlier, Meghalaya Police had asked the BSF to increase surveillance owing to the Lok Sabha elections. The state police are also in touch with the BSF to ensure peaceful voting at polling stations close to the international border.
It may be mentioned that Meghalaya shares 443 km of international border with Bangladesh and a huge chunk of the border is unfenced. The border is also used for smuggling of cattle and other items.
