90 coys of central forces and others approved for Manipur polls

Chief Electoral Officer PK Singh has informed that the Ministry of Home Affairs has agreed to provide 90 COHSEM of CAPF including 15 Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) within the state.

The CAPE will include CRPF, BSF and State Armed Police from Assam and Mizoram.

According to sources, 90 coys should be deployed in the first phase elections" of the State's Outer Manipur parliamentary constituency, scheduled on April 11 following which some of them will be de-inducted.

On the other hand, 44 coys of CAPF and state forces shall be deployed for election duties of Inner Manipur parliamentary constituency scheduled on April 18.

The officer also identified that of the total 2862 polling stations, 283 are considered "critical" of which 227 in Outer Manipur parliamentary constituency.

Other 225 polling stations of which 171 are located in OMPC and 54 in IMPC are considered "vulnerable"

CRPF shall be retained for guarding the strong room containing polled machines up to counting.

The state has a grand total voters of 1959429 of whom 995773 are women voters which is significantly higher than male voters numbering 943426.Meanwhile, in the run up to elections, the Income tax has seized up to Rs 10.27 lakh while law enforcing agencies, both state and central have seized Rs 1.12 crore worth of gold.

Narcotics and drugs worth of Rs 19.25 correct have been destroyed while 385 acres of poppy plantation worth Rs 19.25 crore have been destroyed as well.

Law enforcers has managed to recover 100 unlicensed weapons along with 40 gelatine sticks, 121 detonators, 900 g of TNT and one bomb.