Second phase of Rabha council polls peaceful

The second phase of elections to the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council (RHAC) passed off peacefully Saturday barring a few stray incidents of clashes between supporters of political parties contesting the polls.

The Assam government had deployed heavy security in Rabha Hasong areas following the opposition to the polls by various non-Rabha communities living in the RHAC, who are demanding exclusion of non-Rabha dominated villages from the council.

While the first phase of polls held Nov 13 witnessed 70 percent polling, the state election department said that over 60 percent polling was recorded Saturday.

While polls were held to 13 constituencies of the RHAC in the first phase, polling was held to 12 constituencies Saturday, election officials said.

The third phase of the polls, scheduled for Nov 25, will cover 11 constituencies, the officials said. Counting of votes will take place Nov 30.

The government deployed 15 companies of central paramilitary forces in the RHAC areas to help police maintain law and order during the polls. The army was deployed along the Assam-Meghalaya border to stop unwanted elements from infiltrating RHAC areas and disturb the polls.

Several pressure groups from non-Rabha communities have been agitating ever since the government decided to hold election to the RHAC earlier this month.

While there are about 779 villages under the RHAC, spread over Golapara district and southern side of Kamrup district, non-Rabha community organisations say that in at least 382 villages, Rabhas are in minority and that these villages should be excluded from the RHAC.