Eastern Mirror Desk
Dimapur, Jan 24 (EMN): Private vehicle owners are feeling the heat of the requisitioning of their vehicles by the district authorities for the forthcoming elections as approximately 4200 vehicles will be obtained from Dimapur district.
Speaking to Eastern Mirror, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Dimapur and also District Election Officer (DEO) Sushil Kumar Patel said that requisitioned vehicles from Dimapur will also be sent to other districts such as Zunheboto, Peren, Kiphire etc. during the elections. A reliable source informed that 3000 vehicles have been set to go to other districts for elections from Dimapur and 1200 cars will be needed for Dimapur .
It was informed that there are 323 polling stations in Dimapur alone which means the supposed figure of vehicles needed at each polling station will be more than 4. All these depends on the vulnerability and criticality of the polling stations in terms of mob fights breaking out, tensions, sensitivity etc. The number of vehicles required also depends on the availability of buses, pickup trucks and similar vehicle with higher seating capacity, said the DC.
The deputy commissioner also informed that the requisition slip will act as the documents of the vehicles since the documents are being taken for verification by the administration.
Commercial vehicles such as taxis and auto rickshaws have also been served requisition slips. The unions of each have agreed to send in the required numbers for elections in Dimapur, informed a reliable source.
When asked what would happen if the owner of the private car refused the requisition of his/her car, Patel said that concerned authorities still have to “discuss’ and “look into the matter”.
The DC also said that charges and payment of the car will be depending under what category the particular vehicle falls under. A reliable source also said that the payment to concerned owners will be made via online bank transfers directly by the centre itself.
When asked about how it is affecting the general public and especially school going children, Patel firmly said that on election day all schools are going to be shut so no child will be affected. “The cars requisitioned will only be needed for the main day, even though requisition slips have been issued” Patel said.
Light motor vehicles (LMVs) ranging from Scorpios to Maruti 800 are in the radar for requisitioning it was informed. The same reliable source also said that on February 1, all requisitioned cars and its owners will assemble at the DDSC Stadium. This will be in regard to categorising all vehicles and informing owners to which districts their vehicles would be assigned.
