AGARTALA, Feb 23 — There are enough indications that the Election Commission which had earlier debarred the elite Tripura State Rifles from poll duties would reconsider the restrictions imposed on the force. Sources sad, the two Deputy Election Commissioners, Sayan Chatterje and Noor Muhammed during their visit here recently hinted that in view of the state administration and ruling CPI (M)’s requests the restriction would be withdrawn. The EC had earlier withdrawn the restrictions from two India Reserve Battalions of the TSR.
The Congress and INPT had alleged that the TSR was acting in a partisan way in favour of the ruling CPM and there was a general “feeling among the tribals that the force is highly anti-tribal.” The CPM strongly refuted the charge pointing out that 25 per cent of the jawans in the TSR are from outside the state. “Moreover, there are a considerable number of Tripura tribal youths in the force since during the recruitment in the TSR the ST quota in the state was also maintained”, said CPM spokesman Gautam Das. He felt that “there must be some misgivings” in the EC in regard to the TSR and that was why the CEC JM Lyndoh during his visit to the state on January 16 had directed the state government to debate the force from poll-related duties.
Now, though there are indications that the EC may reconsider is decision, there is no written order from the Commission as yet. “But there were discussions on the matter when the two Deputy Election Commissioners held meeting with the police and security force officers. There were enough indications that they would send the written direction to withdraw the restrictions from the TSR from Delhi,” said an official. Another decision of the EC that would help the state government considerably is the use of helicopters in all the four districts.
Earlier, it was decided that the choppers would be used for transportation of poll officials and materials in remote parts of Dhalai district. Now, it was decided that four helicopters would be pressed into service in all the four districts. They can be used in rapid force deployment apart from poll official transportation. There are already four helicopters stationed in the state and if needed two more would be flown in here.