GG News Bureau
Itanagar, 18th April. After a BJP leader was kidnapped in Arunachal Pradesh, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Pawan Kumar Sain stated that any interference in the election process by underground groups will not be tolerated, and strict action will be taken against such activities.
Sain’s statement came after the abduction of the BJP leader by insurgents in Longding district. The use of underground elements by a candidate in the same district, which is part of the Arunachal East Lok Sabha seat, was also reported.
Inspector General of Police (Law & Order) Chukhu Apa confirmed the abduction and mentioned that the police and paramilitary forces are working to rescue the kidnapped person.
However, the IGP declined to provide further details about the incident. Longding Deputy Commissioner Bekir Nyorak and Superintendent of Police Dekio Gumja also refused to comment.
The state of Arunachal Pradesh, with two Lok Sabha seats, is set to hold elections for both the parliamentary and 60-member assembly on April 19. The ruling BJP has already won ten seats uncontested out of the total 60.
A high-level security meeting was held to address the incident, and the deputy commissioners of Longding and Tirap were instructed to prevent any interference in the election process by underground groups, the CEO announced in a press conference.
Assam Rifles and other paramilitary forces have been directed to increase security measures, Sain added.
Naga insurgents are active in three eastern districts of Tirap, Changlang, and Longding, engaging in activities like abduction, extortion, and other criminal acts. Over the years, several members of various insurgent groups have been arrested in the region.
Regarding allegations that a candidate in Longding was using insurgents to influence villagers to support them, Sain stated that if any candidate is found involved in such activities, the Election Commission would disqualify them.
A special platoon of central armed police forces has been deployed to Longding, and a total of 13,176 personnel from CAPF and state police are working to ensure peaceful polling in the state, the CEO mentioned.
Since the announcement of the polls, there have been 36 law and order incidents reported, resulting in one death and 33 injuries, Sain informed.
Out of the 2,226 polling stations in the state, 480 are in shadow areas, 588 are considered critical, and 443 are vulnerable, according to the official.
Additionally, 87 inter-state checkpoints are operational in the state to prevent any external anti-social elements from disrupting the polling process.
Sain emphasized the commitment to ensuring free and fair elections without violence and stated that any violation of the model code of conduct will not be tolerated. An additional deputy commissioner and a senior government official have already been suspended for favoring candidates, he added.
On April 15, polling parties were airlifted to four remote polling stations in the Kra-Daddi district, and five more groups were sent to distant regions on Tuesday, Sain reported.
Out of the total 2,226 polling stations in the state, 228 can only be reached on foot.
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