20 companies of central forces sent to Assam ahead of polls

Guwahati: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has dispatched 20 companies (each company comprises 76 personnel) of central security forces which will start arriving in poll-bound Assam for area domination exercise by next week. Another 20 companies deployed in the state will join them.

It is pertinent to mention here that Central Police Forces (CPFs) are routinely sent to all states and UTs where Lok Sabha or Vidhan Sabha elections are to take place for advance area domination, especially in the critical and vulnerable sectors which are identified by meticulous advance reviews and concrete feedback from various sources including political parties and entities.

This practice has been going on since the late 1980s.

The 20 companies shall be arriving in the state soon. Another 20 companies deployed here will join them.

The ECI will hold a crucial meeting later today to finalise the schedule for the upcoming polls to four states (West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala) and one Union Territory (Puducherry).

In the meeting, to be chaired by Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora, deployment of CRPF and number of sensitive booths in each state will also be discussed.