By-elections in Boxnagar and Dhanpur assembly constituencies is on September 5. Day-night police patrolling is now going on in both the constituencies to make the voting process free of violence.
District Election Officer as well as Sepahijla District Magistrate Dr. Vishal Kumar said that more than 2500 police personnel will be deployed to conduct the by-polls smoothly. Central paramilitary forces will be in charge of all the booths. Apart from this, central forces along with TSR, State Police will also be deployed to maintain general law and order outside the booth. The BSF has already deployed additional force in the six-km unfenced area along the Bangladesh border with the district. Apart from this, CCTV cameras have also been installed in areas without barbed wire fences. All in all, all kinds of steps have been taken to prevent any kind of illegal infiltration through the border.
Meanwhile India-Bangladesh border of Sonamura sub-division under Sepahijla district will remain sealed from 7 am on September 3 till the end of polling on September 5 in order to conduct the by-elections smoothly. During this time no one except BSF officers and jawans, responsible government officials, security forces members can cross the border of the concerned area.
Similarly, no one from Bangladesh will be able to enter India through the Srimantpur Immigration Center in Sonamura subdivision during this time.
This order has been issued by District Magistrate and District Election Officer of Sepahijla district as per the guidelines of Election Commission of India.
It is reported that the passenger movement through Srimantapur ICP will be closed from September 3 to 5, but imports and exports will continue as usual.
Sipahijala District Superintendent of Police BJ Reddy said adequate security personnel would be deployed for peaceful polling. Only the central force will have 15 companies. TSR, State Police will also be there. More central forces will be brought in if necessary. He said that out of 110 booths of two seats, 30 percent booths are sensitive. General booths will have Central Force jawans in semi-sections. And a section car jawan will be deployed in sensitive booths. Besides, more Central Force jawans will be deployed at booths which are more sensitive. The Superintendent of Police said that there will be no shortage of security personnel to conduct the polls peacefully.
The District Election Officer and District Superintendent of Police said that all steps have been taken to complete the voting phase in a free, fair and peaceful manner. Both also urged the voters to go to their respective polling stations on September 5 and vote fearlessly.
Counting of by-polls for these two constituencies on September 8. The entire election process will be completed by September 10.
