Agartala, September 16: As Tripura prepares for the Village Committee elections under the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC), authorities have put in place a multi-layered security and monitoring plan, including the deployment of 74 companies of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) across the state.
The central forces will be deployed ahead of polling and continue their presence through the voting process and thereafter. Area domination operations and flag marches have already started in sensitive locations, officials said.
The State Election Commission reviewed the overall preparedness at two meetings held on Wednesday. The senior-level meeting, conducted in hybrid mode, was attended by the Director General of Police, IG (Law & Order), District Magistrates, District Election Officers and Superintendents of Police.
The discussions covered security deployment, voter safety, campaign regulations and mechanisms for monitoring the elections. District administrations and security agencies were instructed to maintain equal opportunity for all candidates and political parties during campaigning while preventing any disruption to law and order.
Authorities have also been directed to ensure that voters are able to reach polling stations and cast their ballots without fear, intimidation or obstruction. Special arrangements will be made to facilitate the movement of authorised representatives of candidates and political parties on polling day.
The Commission has simultaneously laid down strict restrictions for the final phase of the campaign. Provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, and the Representation of the People Act, 1951, will come into force from 4 pm on September 26 until 6 am on September 28.
A mandatory 48-hour silence period will be observed during this period. Campaigning and electioneering will be prohibited, while content that could influence voters will be restricted on television, radio, cable networks, social media, digital platforms and print media within polling areas.
Media organisations have been advised not to carry debates, discussions, opinion polls or other material capable of influencing voters during the restricted period. Violations will be liable for action under the relevant laws.
Loudspeaker use has also been regulated, with permission limited to the hours between 6 am and 10 pm. The restriction is intended to minimise inconvenience to children, elderly people and persons with special needs.
Polling stations will also be checked for essential amenities. District authorities have been instructed to ensure the availability of drinking water, electricity and adequate furniture at every polling station.
Meanwhile, election observers appointed for the Village Committee polls were briefed separately on Wednesday. They will supervise the electoral process in their assigned areas, monitor compliance with election rules and ensure impartiality.
The observers will submit comprehensive reports to the State Election Commission after completion of polling, officials said.
