Giving law and order top most priority, the Election Commission of Indian (ECI) on Monday held a detailed meeting with CEO and all observers through video conferencing and asked the administration to strictly implement all protocols before 72-hours of Election Day.

Addressing a press conference here at the conference hall of DM(West) on Monday evening, the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Tripura, Kiran Gitte said  to control the law and order situation, the administration has imposed prohibitory order of section-144 across the state from Monday night 10 PM to Tuesday morning 6 AM.

Highlighting the massive preparations of ECI to ensure ‘zero poll violence’, Gitte said that before announcement of poll schedules and after declaration of poll dates, the ECI has so far deployed above 400 companies of Central Arms Police Forces (CAPFs) and to maintain the law and order situation, more than 20, 000 state police and TSR has also been deployed across the state.

In comparison to the assembly polls of 2018, altogether 309 incidents were reported, but due to strict measures and high alertness of the Commission, till February 11 , only 100 incidents were reported, which is less than one third.

With proper permission, a record number of political events and programmes were organized in the state.

Gitte said that from Tuesday morning  6 AM to 4 PM , political parties can organize their political campaigns and at 4 PM , the silent period for February 16 assembly polls will start and no political party will be allowed to continue their poll campaign. He said on Tuesday, no motorbike rally will be allowed across the state and again Tuesday 4 PM, the CrPc section of 144 will again be imposed and will continue up to 6 AM of February 17 morning. These measures are only to maintain the law and order situation, said Gitte and after 4 PM on Tuesday, the candidate with other four persons can go door to door visit, but campaign will not be allowed.

He said sufficient numbers of CAPFs are deployed across the state and they will strictly implement section-144.

The Babsaheb Ambedkar University in West Bengal, where 262 colleges are imparting B.Ed courses and thousands of state’s students are studying in these colleges and after ECI intervention, the university has postponed the B.Ed examination and it will be held after February 19 next, said Gitte and added that is has been given a chance to the state’s student to cast their vote in their respective assembly constituencies.

He said all District Magistrates of all eight districts have issued the order of section-144 and start miking to make aware people.

Regarding cash distribution by a candidate of Bamutia constituency, which has been viral in social media, Gitte said that proper action will be taken against errant persons. He said that 95% of the total 56,000 polling personnel, who were registered under Form-12 for postal ballot voting, cast their votes from February 8 to 12 last. Gitte added that all the 3,337 polling station stations will be guarded by only CAPFs and except 72 polling stations; all polling stations will have webcasting of the entire voting process.

Gitte said that till date enforcement agencies have seized contraband items; drugs and cash amount of Rs. 44 crore and more than 1600 people were arrested as preventive arrest.

Gitte also assured the voters of the all voters of will be able to cast their votes free and fair manner without any fear and ground level confidence of voters of the state are far better as ECI has deployed sufficient numbers of forces to protect voting rights of every person.