Report on killing of NCP nominee sent to EC: Meghalaya CEO

Meghalaya Chief Electoral Officer Frederick Roy Kharkongor on Monday said he had sent a detail report to the Election Commission on the killing of NCP candidate from the Williamnagar assembly constituency in an IED blast.

In the report, the state election panel sought another 10 additional companies of Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) to be deployed in Garo Hills and parts of West Khasi Hills district especially in militant-infested areas to ensure free, fair and peaceful conduct of assembly polls.

On Sunday, four people, including Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) candidate Jonathone N. Sangma, were killed while three others injured in an IED blast at Sawilgre village under East Garo Hills district.

However, election authorities said that no comprehensive report has indicated the involvement of any militant group behind the incident.

"Whether it was the militants who carried out the attacks or not but the place of occurrence has been an area of militants' strong hold," Kharkongor told journalists, adding that 80 companies of CAPF already sanctioned for Meghalaya would arrive from Tripura this week.

"Intensive combing operations have already been initiated in the area where the incident had taken place and the DGP has also rushed to the spot supervising the operations personally," he said.

Following the killing of the poll candidate, Kharkongor said that additional Chief Secretary, Home, M.S.Rao, had reviewed the overall law and order in the state along with senior government officials, including Director General of Police (DGP) Swaraj Bir Singh and state election officials.

In addition to the DIG of Western range, another DIG level officer will be permanently stationed at Williamnagar till the election process is completed.

Moreover, Kharkongkor said that five companies of special forces specially trained to tackle militancy will be deployed for election related security duties in order to instill confidence among the people and strengthen the security arrangements in the area.

He said a high-level intelligence review meeting was also convened by the state chief police nodal officer involving all Central and state intelligence agencies in the context of the recent developments.

Asked about countermanding of election in Williamnagar constituency due to the candidate's death, Kharkongor said that a report on the death of the candidate and high level meeting has been sent to the Election Commission.

"The Commission will take a call and decide fresh date for conducting the election in Williamnagar," he said, adding that the district election officer will also send a report to the EC.

--IANS

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