The district administration is all set for the first phase of Panchayat elections on Sunday. East Singhbhum district administration has sent 420 polling parties for Naxal infested-hit blocks of Dumaria, Ghorabandha and Mosaboni from city to conduct first phase of panchayat polls scheduled.
The district administration is making all necessary efforts to ensure the smooth conduct of the polls. Deputy commissioner Amitabh Kaushal said that that they have completed the preparations for the panchayat elections in the district. He said that all necessary preparations have been made with adequate deployment of forces.
“We have deployed forces in the fringe areas. Amidst threat of poll boycott in Ghurabandha area we have identified 172 polling booths as hypersensitive and 109 as sensitive and 139 as normal. Even the clusters and sectors of polling parties have been identified based on sensitivity of the area,” he noted.
According to information, East Singhbhum SSP Anoop Mathew and East Singhbhum rural SP Shailender Kumar Sinha are camping in the rebel hit blocks taking stock of the situation.
The deputy commissioner further informed that voters slips have been distributed to each of the 1.5 lakh rural voters in the three blocks and the booth level officer had been directed to ensure that electorates were informed about their respective booths, polling stations and also time of the election (7 am to 3 pm) to avoid any prombles in searching their name in the voter’s list.
Incidentally there are 86 booths in Ghorabandha, 210 booths in Mosaboni and 124 in Dumaria and ballots boxes of the three blocks would be kept at the strong-room in Jagadish Chandra High School in Ghatshila. Counting would take place on December 19. Elections would be held for the post gram panchayat members, gram panchayat mukhiya, panchayat samity members and zilla parishad members.
When asked about the security arrangements, SSP Mathew said that the police will ensure free and smooth elections process. The district has also arranged sufficient number of forces from the Government to main law and order. He went on to add that though the banned rebels have called for poll boycott but the police administration will work to ensure peace and tranquility.
Police sources informed that they are keeping a vigil on the movements of the ultras and the drive of Maoists will not dampen the spirits of the candidates in the region in any fray.