Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday vowed to hold the ensuing Assembly elections in Nagaland in completely free and fair manner.
The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) O P Rawat made this assertion during a media interaction in Kohima holding series of meetings with the representatives of all registered political parties on the second day of his two-day visit to the poll-bound state.
Rawat also said the state level and district level election officials have been strictly instructed to impart their duties without any fear or biasness.
The ECI team also reviewed the overall law-and-order situation in the State. The ECI has also directed the state administration and police to take adequate measures to beef up the security mechanism during the polls.
The CEO was accompanied by election commissioners Sunil Arora, Ashok Lavasa, deputy election commissioner Sudeep Jain, director generals Dilip Sharma, Direndra Ojha and principal secretary Narendra N Butolia.
Meanwhile, general and police observers have been deployed in the State for monitoring security and advising the administration on taking suitable action.
Central armed police forces (CAPFs) have also been deployed as part of confidence building measures.
While arrangement has been made for providing cashless treatment to all polling staff, CAPF and police personnel deployed on election duty, provision for air ambulances has also been made for quick evacuation in case of any emergency.
The ECI has also issued instruction for strict implementation of ceasefire ground rules so that movement of armed cadres is checked for free and fair election in the State.
The ECI further instructed the Assam Rifles to keep a strict vigil on the international border with Myanmar to thwart any attempt by militants to enter into the State from across the border.
The State police force too have been directed to identify and take action against trouble-mongers and anti-social elements so that the poll process is not disturbed.
Further, for the first time, all police check posts across the State have been put under webcasting and videography 24×7 for the entire period of election.
