Over 11 lakh voters to exercise franchise

Kohima Bureau Kohima, Feb. 12 (EMN): A total of 11,91,513 electors including 60,1707 men and 58, 9806 women will be exercising their franchise in the forthcoming Nagaland assembly elections scheduled for Feb. 27. Informing this at a press briefing this evening, Chief Electoral Officer Abhijit Sinha said 22 general observers, 22 expenditure observers and 11 police observers have been put in place in 12 districts of the state. Security preparedness Sinha said a total of 281 companies of CAPF have been arranged as security measures. He added that 77 companies of security forces comprising CRPF, BSF, ITBP, RPF and SSB have arrived in the state. Besides, he added that static police check posts have initiated to check illegal inflow of cash, arms, liquors and other illegal items. Seized consignments Flying Squad Team (FST) comprising of state police as on February 10 had reportedly seized cash amounting to INR 6,61, 240; along with 33,433 bottles of liquor; 26, 448 canner beer; six pots of local rice brew; four arms, 29 ammunitions; 13,704 SP capsules; 38 nitrosum tablets; and two vehicles. At the same time, the Static Surveillance Team (SST) also seized cash amounting to INR 11,52,500 along with 998.50 bottles of liquor; three canned beer; 30 litres of local made liquor; 170 kgs of ganja; 5 grams of heroin; .22 pistol along with magazine and 4 live rounds; 4769 SP capsules; 58 bottles of cough syrup; 35 grams of brown sugar and five rolls of opium while another 24 FIR have been lodged at various police stations. 15, 812 govt. employees deployed On the preparedness of manpower for the ensuing election, CEO Sinha said a total number of 15, 812 government employees have been deployed for actual polling duty for the 2196 polling stations of the 60 assembly constituencies of Nagaland. He also informed that a good number of government officials are engaged for other election related duties such as Election Expenditure Monitoring Cell (EEM); Media Certification and Monitoring Cell (MCMC); Video Surveillance Team (VST); Static Surveillance Team (SST) etc in all the assembly constituencies. Sinha also said that all women polling party would be set up in 25 assembly constituencies.