Just a week before the February 16 assembly elections, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has ensured three tiers of security blanket across the state to achieve the goal of ‘zero poll violence’.

Addressing a press conference here at the conference hall of the DM (West) on Tuesday evening, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Kiran Gitte accompanied by State Police Nodal Officer (SPNO) G S Rao said that the Commission has started the process of monitoring of law and order situation across Tripura since August, 2022 and started deployment of Central Arms Police Forces (CAPFs) in the state.

All the agencies including flying squads,  quick response teams (QRT) and central forces will intensify their mobilization  and area domination exercise from February 9th to boost up confidence building among the general voters of the state.

He said that ECI has deployed the CAPFs before announcement of poll schedules and as per the plan and to achieve the target of ‘zero poll violence’ , 100 companies of CAPFs have already arrived in the state before December 28 and just before the announcement of poll schedules, 100 more companies arrived in the state.

He said that hundreds of Naka points have been set across the state and law enforcement agencies are also getting massive success through these Naka points.

Gitte said that due to strong surveillance by forces, the CAPF on Tuesday made a major bust and seized 519 kilograms of dry Cannabis (Ganja) worth of Rs. 10 crore  from Churaibari of North Tripura district from a 14-wheeler truck moving from Udaipur to Assam. He said that police have also arrested two persons and registered a specific NDPS Act case.

While, speaking in the press meet state nodal officer, G S Rao  said that so far all the CAPFs arrived in the state have properly deployed across the state and police with forces have so far seized contraband items of Rs.27 crore .

He said that so far 62 FIRs have been lodged related to poll violence and police have also arrested 54 accused persons. Till date, police have executed 1,610 warrants  and in the last six months a record number of 31, 638 CrPc bonds signed by the administration.

Gitte said that in 2018 assembly polls, altogether 309 FIRs were registered and only 10 arrests were made, in the 2023 assembly polls, four time higher arrests were made so far.

He also admitted that there are reports of sporadic violence and the poll panel has also taken instant action against complaints. He urged the political parties and their supporters to have patience and show some maturity to achieve the goal of zero poll violence.

Gitte added only CAPFs will be deployed in all 337 polling stations and there will be double the number of forces in sensitive locations including all bordering polling stations.

As part of the 3-tier security layer, the first tier will be covered by CAPFs, second layer of security has been covered by 16 departments including all law enforcing agencies and third layer of security will be logically covered by police for execution of law and FIRs.

Gitte said more central forces are coming in the state and mobilization of CAPFs will start from February 9th with area domination exercises and patrolling in all areas and roads.

Gitte also assured the people of the state that central forces will be stationed in Tripura till March 4th, 2023 next and a major number of forces will also be there to control the law and order situation.

The CEO said that all the open border, where barbed wire fencing yet to be erected will be covered with CCTV cameras and to seal the inter-state borders of Assam , Mizoram and Tripura, a high-level meeting of top officials will be held on February 9th next.

While, replying a media question Gitte said that ECI has so far information of 139 families, who are living outside of border fencing in the Indian territory and BAF has been asked to allow them to cast their votes, said Gitte and added that BSF have also given the list of these 139 families of Indian voters.