Troopers to watch over Tripura by-poll Saturday

A contingent of security personnel has been deployed for the Manu assembly by-poll in Tripura Saturday, an official said here Friday.

"An adequate number of central paramilitary troopers and Tripura State Rifles jawans have been deployed to hold the by-poll smoothly," poll returning pfficer Rajib Datta told IANS over phone from Sabroom, 135 km south of here.

He said: "Senior police officials are closely supervising the situation. We are in constant touch with the Election Commission and Chief Electoral Officer Ashutosh Jindal."

Jindal told IANS here that 38,843 voters, including 18,929 female voters, are eligible to cast their votes to choose their representative from among the six candidates.

"Fortysix polling stations in 38 locations would be set up," Jindal said, adding that the balloting would start at 7 a.m. and will continue till 5 p.m. without any break.

Jindal said 230 polling personnel and 38 micro-observers were appointed to hold the by-poll.