Tripura to get 200 companies of central forces

AGARTALA: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has sanctioned the mobilization of 200 companies of additional central paramilitary forces (CPMF) for each phase of the Lok Sabha poll - to be held on April 11 and 18 - in Tripura. The first contingent of 40 companies of CPMF is scheduled to reach the state on Friday. During the last assembly polls, 300 companies of CPMF had been deployed in the state.
Police sources said that the mobilization of at least 100 companies of CPMF is expected to be completed by next week. At present, five companies of CPMF are posted in Tripura, who has already been put on election duty in the West Tripura constituency.
Tripura has 12 battalions of TSR, 19 battalions of BSF for guarding the 856-km-long India-Bangladesh border, four battalions of Assam Rifles, around 10,000 state police and 800 home guards.
According to election officials, security has been stepped up in the airport, railway stations and bus stops. The BSF has been asked to further strengthen security along the Bangladesh border and to be on high alert.
"As per ECI instructions, we have deployed sufficient numbers of flying squads for each assembly segment basis to keep a tab on movement of cash and other materials by the civilians and political party leaders ahead of the polls. The political parties were reminded to follow the expenditure rule slated by ECI and assistant expenditure observers have been appointed to monitor poll expenses," said election officials here.