Agartala, Feb 13, 2023, TRIPURA TIMES Desk

Agartala, Feb 13: Chief Electoral Officer of Tripura Kiran Gitte on Monday said the Election Commission of India (ECI) has taken several initiatives to ensure zero poll violence following which the number of poll-related incidents has been declined so far.

“Around 309 incidents were reported in 2018 assembly elections. This time, 100 incidents were reported till February 11, which is less than one third as compared to 2018. This is the indication that the law and order is much under control this election. We want to ensure zero violence,” he told reporters.

Addressing a press conference at the conference hall of the West Tripura district magistrate, he said, the Election Commission of India held a meeting with all the Observers appointed for the Tripura assembly elections. 

He said, some incidents of recovery of bombs and pre-poll violence were reported from Border Golchakkor, Airport area, Khayerpur, Sepahijala, Belonia and Mohanpur.

According to the CEO, more than 400 companies of Central Armed Paramilitary Forces (CAPFs) are already in the state for the assembly elections scheduled on February 16 next. He said, along with the 400 companies of central forces, over 20,000 TSR and Police personnel are also there in the state. 

The CEO also said, the vocal campaigning would come to an end at 4 pm on Tuesday but the candidates would be allowed to visit door to door along with maximum four persons, who are voters of the same constituency.

Around 56,000 polling personnel, security personnel, drivers, co-drivers and other staff appointed for the elections works applied for postal ballot voting and more than 95 percent of them cast their votes, as per the preliminary report.

Meanwhile, the CEO said, Baba Saheb Ambedkar Education University of West Bengal postponed the B.Ed examination for the Tripura students. According to the authority, the examinations would be taken after February 19, he said.

Prohibitory order imposed

A prohibitory order under section 144 of CrPC came into force across Tripura from 10 pm of Monday night and it will continue till 6 am of the next morning (Tuesday).

Addressing a press conference, Chief Electoral Officer, Tripura- Kiran Gitte on Monday said the prohibitory order has been imposed to maintain peace and order during the assembly elections.

He said, as per the direction of the Election Commission of India (ECI), the prohibitory order would again come into force from 4 pm on February 14 and continue till 6 am on February 17.