Dimapur, February 25 (MExN): A team of officials led by the Nagaland Chief Election Officer, Home Commissioner and Deputy General of Police, held a series of meetings with the district administration, police, political parties and civil society organisations in Mokokchung and Wokha— the two districts where several incidents of poll-related violence have been reported.
In Wokha, the team held meetings with representatives of the BJP, NCP, JD (U), NDPP and NPF as well as the representatives of Lotha Hoho, Lotha Eloe Hoho, Wokha District Village Council Chairman Association, according to a DIPR report received here on Saturday.
Against the backdrop of pre-poll violence incidents in the district of Wokha, the team of officials reviewed the law and order situation in the district and the consultations were held for the purpose of maintaining peaceful atmosphere and conduct of free and fair elections. The visiting officials are said to have appealed to the leaders to sensitize the public to maintain peace and not to indulge in any election related violence.
All the stakeholders assured to abide by the guidelines of the Election Commission and to extend support and co-operation to the District Administration and Police for successful conduct of election, the DIPR stated.
As per the DIPR, CEO V Shashank Shekhar expressed confidence in the District Administration and Law enforcing agencies for taking proactive measures to maintain the law and order in the district and exhorted them to remain vigilant during the poll and post-poll period. He further informed that even after the polling is over, if the conduct of electoral malpractices has been found against any candidate, action would be taken as per the law.
Adding to this, Home Commissioner Abhijit Sinha said webcasting recordings will be reviewed to ascertain anomalies carried out by any candidate. He also informed that the voter’s information slip is not allowed as identity proof, as one can vote only on producing EPIC ID or any other 12 identity cards approved by the ECI.
On his part, DGP Rupin Sharma assured that sufficient security forces would be deployed and he appealed to the parties and civil societies organisations to inculcate good behaviour among the party supporters and the public so that election can be conducted in safe and free and fair manner. He also urged the party representative to create awareness among the electorate to avert creating situations that may lead to violence.
Meanwhile in Mokokchung, a discussion and review of the ground situation, regarding incidents of poll-related violence which has come to the notice of the Election Commission, the CEO requested the political party representatives to report any anomalies about the Modal Code of Conduct by any Candidates/Party, so that action can be taken by the concerned authority
The CEO reiterated that even after the polling, action would be taken against those found indulging in electoral malpractices while Home Commissioner Sinha also highlighted about the review of webcasting recordings, and the DGP urged the party representative to create awareness among the electorate.
The officials, while interacting with the civil society representative from Ao Senden, Watsu Mungdang and AKM, called for their joint effort in order to reach out to the community members and sensitize them on avoiding situations that may lead to violence, the DIPR report stated.
Presidents of Ao Senden and Watsu Mungdang expressed their grief about the poll-related violence in some areas of the district but assured that more concrete efforts would be put in from their end with close coordination with the district election machinery so that further poll-related violence can be avoided.
The Deputy Commissioner and District Election Officer maintained that necessary and adequate measures are being taken to avoid any poll-related violence in the district. With proper coordination with the civil societies and political party functionaries, the polling process can be conducted in a free and fair manner, he said.
