Section 144 clamped in six districts ahead of Tripura East polls

AGARTALA: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Sunday clamped Section 144 of the CrPC - prohibiting the assembly of five or more people - in six of the eight districts of the state to prevent any disturbance leading up to, and during, elections to the Tripura East constituency on Tuesday.
The prohibitory orders will be in force till the end of the polls and are aimed at ensuring free and fair elections in the tribal-reserved constituency.
Elections to the Tripura East seat were scheduled to be held on April 18 but were deferred to Tuesday after reports surfaced of supporters of a party receiving threats. The other Lok Sabha constituency in the state - Tripura West - voted on April 11 but reports of rigging have forced opposition parties CPM and Congress to demand a repoll.
Talking to the media, chief electoral officer (CEO) Sriram Taranikanti said each polling station would have only a table, two chairs, a flag and a festoon on Tuesday. Help desks of different political parties have to be 200 metres away from the station. "We have sufficient central paramilitary forces and police from other states for Tripura East. Besides, Tripura Police and Tripura State Rifles (TSR) men will be deployed. About 85 per cent of the polling booths will be managed exclusively by the central paramilitary forces and the rest will have TSR and armed police," Taranikanti said.
He advised voters and civilians against violating the prohibitory orders over the next two days. The central paramilitary forces have been positioned in each locality of the constituency and are undertaking flag marches.
"All political parties have been asked to restrain their cadres from carrying out unlawful activities. Police have launched an intensive hunt for outsiders, including in hotels, guest houses and localities. If anybody is found violating the prohibtory orders, the ECI will take strong action against them," he said.
The CEO said the ECI had built up a mechanism to protect its officers and employees from criminals but added that they had to be careful to discharge their duties in a neutral manner. "Several levels of security and surveillance have been put in place for Tripura East. Sector police officers have been instructed to escort polling agents to the booths on demand and send them back after elections. If required, the agents will be provided security afterwards," he said.
Taranikanti reiterated that the ECI had been scrutinizing the complaints raised by different political parties with regards to the polls in Tripura West. "The ECI will take a decision on repolls soon," he said.