SHILLONG, Feb 17—Security has been geared up in the entire state which goes to the polls on February 26. Meghalaya, Director General of Police L Sailo informed newspersons that about 45 companies of security forces including the state police will be deployed to ensure smooth conduct of the Assembly polls.
Assistance of the BSF would be sought if required, Sailo said, adding that besides the existing ten companies of CRPF, three battalions of state police and one newly-recruited battalion, the Centre had sanctioned 15 companies of additional forces to be deployed in the state. Sensitive and hyper-sensitive polling stations have been identified in some parts of the state where security forces would be deployed in strength.
Meanwhile, electioneering has been low key in the state so far with political parties and individual candidates trying to adhere to the code of conduct. There has been no major poll-related violence in the state except for some minor incidents. The police are conducting regular raids to apprehend militants specially in the capital city to pre-empt any attempt at disturbing the poll process. Huge quantities of arms and ammunition have been seized by the police from various quarters of the city over the last few days.
Sonia chides regional parties at Garo Hills poll rally
From Our Correspondent
TURA, Feb 17— Congress president Sonia Gandhi took the battle to her arch-rival Purno A Sangma’s bastion in the Garo Hills and virtually snubbed him refusing to speaking anything about him and sending a clear message that he was a non-entity in her option. Gandhi addressed a massive election rally at Resubelpara constituency in East Garo Hills where MPCC President and former chief minister of Meghalaya Salseng C Marak is contesting for the seventh consecutive time.
While Purno Sangma has time and again continued his tirade against Smt Gandhi over her “foreign” origin, she on the other hand has refused to take any pot shots against him and her speech was centred on the need to bring the Congress to power in Meghalaya for achieving peace and development. The only part of her speech in which the NCP was mentioned was when she termed it as a small party having limited influence in pockets of Garo Hils.
On the political scenario of Meghalaya she criticised the regional parties for failing to fulfil the aspirations of the people. She appealed to the people to marginalise the regional parties by voting for the Congress which alone could bring stability and development. She lashed out at the BJP for communalising politics. “Secularism today is under threat because of parties like the BJP which deliberately create tensions between tribals and non-tribals. The people of Meghalaya should be aware of this threat also,” added Gandhi.
The Congress leader promised better education, industrialisation, and welfare for the tribals and others. She also assured the people of Resubelpara and its nearby constituencies that a separate district of north Garo Hills would be created if the Congress is voted to power. Presently, Resubelpara, Mendipather, Bajengdoba constituencies have to depend on Williamnagar, district headquarters of East Garo Hills for all its work.