Over 235 companies to provide security in 3-phase Assam polls

, March 20:

will go for polling next month with presence of over 235 companies of security forces from both the state and Centre. The security agencies have identified many districts in the state as critical and have decided to increase presence of forces by one to eight companies in each district compared to the 2009 elections.

"We have finalised the plan for security deployment. For the elections in three phases in Assam, we will have a total of at least 235 companies on ground only to manage the polls," Assam's Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Ajit Prasad Rout told PTI. Out of these, over 100 companies will be from the Assam Police, he said.

Assam will go the polls on April 7, 12 and 24.

"We currently have 122 companies of central forces in Assam. From there, 77 companies will be deployed for the elections. In addition, we will get 58 more companies from the Centre," Rout said.

Of the new companies, ten would be from CISF, 14 from SSB, six from ITBP and 20 companies from the state police forces of Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim, he said.

Rout said all forces will arrive by today as area allotments, flag march and some other related works need to be completed before the polling starts on April 7. The other two phases of polling in Assam are on April 12 and April 24. Usually there are 100 personnel in one company, but it may vary in some cases.

PTI