ASSAM SCHOOLS USED AS POLLING STATIONS IN RECENT MEGHALAYA ELECTIONS

Assam Congress MLA Nandita Das has made a shocking allegation that three schools of Assam were used as polling stations in the recently concluded Meghalaya elections. The schools are located at Lampi in Kamrup district. Lampi is located near the Kamrup-West Khasi Hills border region.

Lower Lampi LP School, Khatapara LP School and Umtap LP School of Assam were used as polling stations by the Meghalaya authorities on February 27, she informed the assembly. “Even the Kamrup administration and police looked the other way despite getting complaints” she alleged. The MLA also informed that 650 votes were cast in the three polling stations. “It is shocking as the schools are nine kilometres inside Assam side of the Assam-Meghalaya border” she said. Das alleged that such border areas have been always neglected by the governments, which emboldens the authorities of neighbouring states to utilise the territories for their benefit. She also added that Lampi has tremendous tourism potential.

Replying on behalf of the CM, IT Minister Keshab Mahanta admitted that the areas are under encroachment. He also informed that as per an official report following the elections, the polling centres were shifted from the schools by the Meghalaya authorities.