In order to ensure ‘zero violence’ after counting of polled votes, the Election Commission in participation of all people will organize peace meetings in every polling station of 60 assembly constituencies on February 27 and 28 next.

Addressing a press meet at the conference hall  of District Magistrate (DM) in Agartala on Saturday afternoon, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Tripura , Kiran Gitte appealed to all citizens of the state meet in their respective polling stations and take part in the peace meeting under the slogan of “we are for non-violence, we are for peace.”

He said that the Election department unanimously took the decision in favour of peace as people of the state are always friendly and will remain so even after the announcement of the results of assembly polls on March 2nd.

“Whatever the outcome of the election, we will accept it as an expression of the people’s will and we will accept the people’s verdict with respect,” said Gitte and added that every people will ensure the protection of all citizens, livestock, properties and all types of institutions in their respective areas.

He also hoped that people irrespective of political sentiments will participate in the peace meeting in their locality on February 27 and 28 largely and will take resolutions to protect each other.

He said that this is for the first time in Tripura; the Election Commission of India (ECI) has appointed a counting observer for each of the 60 assembly constituencies to ensure the counting of votes in a free and fair manner.

Gitte said that the ECI appointed 60 counting observers to oversee the counting of all the assembly constituencies in a free and fair manner and they are expected to arrive in the state by February 28.

He said during past 5 to 6 days, the CEO along with Chief Secretary J K Sinha, DGP Amitabh Ranjan and ADGP Saurav Tripathy visited all the districts of the state to ensure strict maintenance of law and order situation before and after the counting of votes and has also ensure proper management of counting process with free and fair manner. They have reviewed the overall security scenario of all the districts and also taken stock of the security arrangements, Gitte said.

Gitte said that a large number of voters of the state participated in the February 16 elections, which was totally free and fair and people in festival mode participated in the voting process standing in long queues for hours.

After February 16, in the last nine days barring some stray incidents, the situation of the state was overall peaceful and no poll related violence recorded in the last five days, said Gitte and added that ECI got 95% success for violence free polls. After polls, a total of 8 incidents of violence, altogether 22 accused persons were arrested.

Meanwhile, giving details of the counting arrangements, Gitte massive security arrangement has been made with a three-tier security system across 21 counting centres in all 8 districts of the state with 100% deployment of Central Arms Police Forces (CAPFs) in all counting centres. He said that 60 assembly seats, 60 counting halls have been prepared in 21 locations and counting of polled votes will start from morning 8 AM on March 2nd next.

He also said that proper arrangements were also made for media coverage and through the ECI’s portal people will be able to know the round wise results of every assembly constituency.