Attack spree worries polls security committee

Imphal, January 24: The state election security coordination committee has taken serious note of the recent spate of attacks on the residences of candidates and politicians and decided to enhance security measures to prevent such further incidents. The security coordination meeting held its fourth meeting today, chaired by the chief secretary, Rakesh. The DGP, Manipur, AA Siddique, principal secretary (elections), DS Poonia, principal secretary (home) PBO Warjari, 1G (law and order) R Basar, election nodal officer DIG (ops) Sandhu), commandant, 9 sector, Brig Sabharwal, commissioner, transport, S Buddhachandra, and senior BSF and CRPF officers were present at the meeting. In view of the attacks on the candidates and workers of various political parties, it was agreed that security forces should be placed on a higher level of alert, and to intensify frisking and checking as preventive measures. The meeting has also decided to prohibit security personnel assigned as escorts to candidates from riding in vehicles bearing the candidate's flag or photograph. It has also been decided to set up a joint control room at the 1st MR grounds from January 28 onwards. Control rooms are also being set up at 11 centres, including at the offices of the deputy commissioners of the nine districts and the offices of the ADCs of Jiribam and Kangpokpi. As categorization of polling stations according to their security sensitivity has not been finalized as yet, it was decided to ask all DCs and SPs to submit the sensitivity categorization of the polling stations under their respective jurisdictions at the earliest. The meeting also agreed that action should be taken against any officer who fails to relinquish the government vehicles and drivers requisitioned for the purpose of elections. It is learnt that altogether 123 government vehicles, including jeeps, Gypsy's and cars have been requisitioned for the elections. The meeting has also decided that ex-ministers should be prohibited from using vehicles bearing red lights. Reliable sources said that as there has been no response from the Centre so far regarding the additional security forces sought for the elections, the meeting could take no concrete decision regarding deployment of security for the elections. It may be mentioned while that the state administration had sought a total of 587 companies of central paramilitary forces for the elections, the Union ministry of home affairs had offered only 10 BSF companies and 20 companies of the CRPF. The advisor (R) to the Governor, N Ram Mohan, is currently in New Delhi to pressurize the MHA and the Election Commission of India to provide more forces for the elections.