Shillong, Jan. 19: In poll parlance, a sensitive booth usually connotes a place where the authorities apprehend violence. In a departure of sorts, polling stations within the striking distance of rampaging elephants in the hills of Ri Bhoi and other Meghalaya districts have also been declared ?sensitive?.
The Election Commission has sought help from the forest department to ensure that voting is not disrupted by the elephants, who are posing an ?equally serious threat?.
The state election commission today said the forest department has been asked to provide logistic support to polling personnel to deal with the ?apolitical? threat.
?The forest department will give tips to polling personnel on how to scare away elephants if they happen to come near the polling booths,? an official said.
?Of the four broad considerations forming the basis for declaring a booth sensitive, elephant menace is one, the others being insurgency, law and order break down and intimidation to voters,? the official said.
Of the 1,569 booths in the state, 600-odd polling stations have been projected as sensitive and quite a few of them are located close to elephant habitats, especially in the Garo Hills and Ri Bhoi district.
?Since many booths are so close to the habitats, the elephants may feel threatened and attack the polling stations. Such a case will lead to a major tragedy. So we are taking precautions,? another election official said. East Garo Hills superintendent of police F.D. Sangma told The Telegraph: ?The wildlife is a constant threat in the Garo Hills, especially in areas bordering Assam.?
Preparations to deal with the elephants are under way in most areas, though the elections are more than a month away. Apart from the elephants, the polling officials are also under the threat of militant outfits. Under such circumstances, polling officials are being provided with four armed constables each.
?The officials have been advised to leave for the booths 24 hours in advance,? D.P. Wahlang the deputy commissioner of East Khasi Hills, also the returning officer of the district, said.
Unconfirmed reports said the total number booths in elephant-infested areas in East Garo Hills, West Garo Hills and South Garo Hills is over 70.
In Garo Hills, there is a substantial population of elephants in Balpakram National Park, Siju wildlife sanctuary, Nokrek National Park, Songsak reserve forest and other areas.
According to the forest department statistics, a total of 2,872 elephants were recorded in Meghalaya during the 1992-93 census. Chief election commissioner J.M. Lyngdoh said last evening that Central forces would be provided to the state to ensure free and fair polls. Lyngdoh admitted that law and order was a ?cause of concern? in the Garo Hills.