SHILLONG: Additional security forces will be deployed in parts of the state from January 31 to ensure a peaceful election.
Police have asserted that the strength of GNLA has been reduced to just 13 members and HNLC is no more active.
Besides the 90 companies of central security forces recently allotted to the state, the existing 10 will be deployed in western and eastern ranges of the state on January 31, DGP S B Singh told reporters on Wednesday.
The state already has 18 companies of central paramilitary forces which are engaged in law and order duty.
Earlier, the state had sought 107 companies of central security forces for the smooth conduct of polls.
Police will deploy the security forces proportionally though the concentration will be in East Garo Hills and South Garo Hills to check militant activities.
Compared to the 2013 polls, police do not foresee any violent incidents in the upcoming polls. There was spurt in the activities of GNLA militants in Garo Hills prior to the 2013 polls. “We do not foresee any law and order problems both in Khasi Hills and Garo Hills and the strength of GNLA has been reduced to 13 while HNLC is finished,” the DGP said. (According to the DGP, though GNLA has tie-up with ULFA, this will not have any impact during the polls. However, Singh said police are keeping vigil to ensure law and order.
In Khasi Hills, vulnerability mapping has been carried out in all the constituencies so that proper security measures can be taken ahead of the polls.
