AGARTALA, July 02: State Election Commissioner Yatendra Kumar on Wednesday reiterated the demand of central forces for the coming three-tier Panchayat election with the state Home Department and sought 17 training companies of the Border Security Forces (BSF) stationed in Tripura at the least for election duty.

Speaking to reporters at his office in the civil secretariat here this evening, Kumar said that the Commission had thrice taken up the issue with the Home Department following which the latter escalated the demand with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). Forty companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) were initially sought for poll duty. No note of approval came from the MHA till date.

All political parties in the opposition demanded central forces for poll duty in the Panchayat election this year. The demand was later supported by the ruling left alliance as well.

“We, at the State Election Commission, want central armed police forces (CAPF) for election duty this year. We have taken up the issue with the state Home Department a couple of times. We have cited Constitutional provisions enabling the State Election Commissioner to seek central forces wherever needed. There is no feedback from their end”, he said adding that TSR jawans would be deployed for election duty in case central forces were not approved from the centre.

A source in the State Election Commission said later today that all 35 strong rooms of the state were manned by security personnel by Wednesday morning. Authorities of four blocks today checked and collected ballot papers from the Government Press at Agartala. Eight more are scheduled to collect ballot papers on Thursday. The process is expected to get completed by July 07.

The Commission took utmost care to maintain secrecy of voting this year, Kumar said. All District Magistrates (DM) were asked to issue proper instructions to concerned personnel to maintain secrecy in keeping with Section 206 of the Tripura Panchayat Act, he added.

Special ID cards would be provided to polling and counting agents with ink sign of the concerned Returning Officers. Counting agents would be provided photo ID cards for entry and re-entry into the counting hall venue as a measure to check any scope of unauthorized entry in the premises.

Special Sector Officers, handling operations at vulnerable polling stations, would be conducting videography of polling and counting process.