Deputy commissioner of Hojai District, Tanmoy Pratim Borgohain, addressing a press conference at Hojai

Ahead of elections, Hojai district is prepping for a smooth and convenient run of the polls and scrutinizing all areas to ensure a trouble free election.

From conducting awareness programmers for voters to taking all necessary precautions and following all guidelines of the Election Commission of India, Hojai is all buckled up for the upcoming election.

“In order to create awareness in the Hojai District on how the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) and the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines functions, various awareness programmes were organised in the entire district where around 55,000 people tried and experienced the functioning of the machine,” said Tanmoy Pratim Borgohain, deputy commissioner of Hojai District while addressing a press conference on Wednesday at Sankardev Nagar in Hojai.

He also informed that along with this awareness programmes, several activities like Sveep awareness, Quiz competition among students, ‘Bator nat’ (street play) were also organized with the help of self help groups at various locations of the district for the upcoming Loksabha election to be held in the second phase, that is April 18 at No 10 Nagaon Lok Sabha consistency.

The DC also stated that they have done mapping in total 793 polling stations in Hojai District to sort out persons with disabilities to help them cast their votes.

He further said that arrangements for electricity, emergency light, drinking water at polling stations have been made as per the guidelines of Election Commission of India.

“First randomization in presence of Political Parties has already been held here in Hojai and the second randomization in presence of Candidates will be held at Nagaon,” the DC maintained.

The DC further added that Ravi Kumar Surpur, IAS, has been appointed as General Observer as well as Ananda Kumar, IRS, as expenditure observer and B Mala Reddy, IPS as Police Observer have also been appointed.

“9 teams of flying squad in Hojai District are keeping an eye at all the illegal activities in connection with Lok Sabha elections. Till now around 3.5 lakhs worth of cash have been seized and around 4,035.5 liquor of 1,77,753 worth have been destroyed,” the DC noted.

ADC Prasanta Barua along with the IT Cell further discussed through projectors slides about the significance of android-applications specially launched for Lok Sabha elections by the ECI namely c-Vigil, Suvidha and Voter-Helpline for the convenience of the general public and requested media persons to give it a wide coverage so that the citizen can be aware of them and avail the advantage.

Addressing the press conference Supertintendent of Police Ankur Jain, IPS said, “Very recently, the Panchayat Elections were held with peace and tranquility in Hojai district. However, the Lok Sabha election is a big event and we have prepared well for it. The district’s deployment draft plans are ready and accordingly we will have a discussion with the observer, deputy commissioner and finalize the same.”

“Police Naka checking is going on and soon random Naka checking will begin as well,” the SP added.

He further informed that 100% licenced arms have also been submitted to Police custody in the district.