The Union Home Ministry has sanctioned 24 companies of central paramilitary forces for the April 12 elections to the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council. Four companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) have already arrived in the state. One company of CAPF generally consists of 100 to 135 personnel. “The MHA sanctioned 24 companies of central forces for the tribal council elections. Out of the 24 companies, four have already arrived in the state, while the remaining 20 companies will be reaching very shortly,” an official source said. The additional central forces, comprising BSF, SSB and CRPF, will be deployed in sensitive tribal-dominated areas before voting for the 28 tribal council seats. This is in addition to 11,000 security personnel already engaged in poll-related duties. Chief Minister Manik Saha, while addressing rallies recently, said violent incidents were reported from 40 places in the state since the announcement of the elections. He had also warned, “The government will not allow any force to capture the tribal council through violence, threats and intimidation.” Of the 1,257 polling booths for the April 12 elections, 311 have been identified as highly critical from the security point of view.
