70 companies of central forces arrive in Tripura for LS polls

Agartala: Around 70 companies of central forces have arrived in Tripura to ensure free and fair polling in the northeastern state, a senior police officer said on Tuesday.

While the Tripura West Lok Sabha seat will go to polls on April 19, voting in the Tripura East seat will be held on April 26.

The Election Commission also announced that the bypoll to the Ramnagar assembly constituency will be held on April 19.

Most of the central forces (a company comprises around 100 personnel) have arrived in Tripura, and are performing election-related duties – patrolling, area-dominance and flag marches – to build confidence among the voters, the officer said.

Around 14 companies of the CRPF and BSF will be engaged in Tripura West, and 11 companies will be deployed in the “sensitive Dhalai district”, he said.

Besides, around 6,000 police personnel will be engaged for election duties.

Prohibitory orders have been imposed along the India-Bangladesh border, where vigil has been intensified to thwart any intrusion bid during the election process, the officer said.

“The state demanded around 100 companies of central forces, but we received confirmation for 70 companies,” he added.