From Preetam Brahma Chouhdury
Kokrajhar: Assam DGP Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta on Tuesday visited Kokrajhar and held a meeting with top district administration and police officials at Kokrajhar Circuit House ahead of the BTC elections scheduled in two phases on December 7 and 10 next.
The DGP had a closed door meeting with senior officials including Kokrajhar Deputy Commissioner Bhaskar Phukan, Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) IGP Anurag Agrawal, Kokrajhar Superintendent of Police Rakesh Roushan.
Later talking to Reporters, Mahanta said tight security arrangement has been made to ensure free and fair. “Security measures have been intensified in sensitive areas in the election bound districts of Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa and Udalguri. Most of the areas have been identified as sensitive or very sensitive. We have already decided to deploy 30 additional companies and if needed more companies will be deployed. We want to ensure free and fair elections, he said.
Anouncing ‘zero tolerance’ against violence, the DGP said there will be zero tolerence against any kind of violence and anyone found indulging in violence or any kind of subversive activities will be firmly dealt with.
“Peace has returned to BTC and till today we have no report of violence coming but we cannot overlook the history of violence here and take all precautionary measures to ensure free and fair elections, the DGP said adding “Assam police is duty bound to see that the elections are conducted in free and fair election”.
He appealed to the people to inform Assam Police if there is any information about elements trying to create trouble and disrupt the peace. “We appeal the people to inform the police of any information so that the police can take strong action, he said.
The senior police official also urged the public to come out and cast their vote without fear. He also appeals to the media to help the administration in conducting the elections in a peaceful manner.
On the incident of violence in some areas, he said “stay incidents are bound to happen during elections but we are attending to these too but violence will not be tolerated.
Elections to the 40 members Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) will be in two phases on December 7 and 10 next. Voters in constituencies falling under Udalguri and Baksa districts will vote in the first phase on 7 December (Monday) while voters under Chirang and Kokrajhar district will vote in the second phase 10 December (Thursday) next.
