By IANS,
Aizawl : Security will be strengthened along the international borders which Mizoram has with Myanmar on one side and Bangladesh on the other in view of the state assembly elections, an official said here Saturday.
The election to the 40-seat Mizoram assembly will be held Nov 29.
“The Election Commission as well as the state authorities have asked the BSF (Border Security Force), Assam Rifles and other Central paramilitary forces to deploy additional troopers along the international borders,” said Mizoram joint chief electoral officer Lalhmingthanga.
Mizoram shares a 480-km-long border with Myanmar and a 310-km-long border with Bangladesh.
Mizoram Chief Secretary Haukhum Hauzel on the direction of the Election Commission has held a meeting with top BSF and other central paramilitary force officials.
“The state government has asked all the deputy commissioners of eight districts to issue notification asking the people to deposit their licensed arms and ammunition to the nearest police stations,” Lalhmingthanga told journalists.
He said 1,026 polling stations would be set up across the state to conduct the polls next month.
“Additional central forces would be deployed in the polling stations situated in vulnerable and sensitive areas,” the official said.
According to the Election Commission schedule, the notification for the elections to the 40-member (39 are reserved for tribals) Mizoram assembly would be issued Nov 5, the last date for filling of nominations is Nov 12 and the scrutiny of nominations would take place the next day. The last date for withdrawal of nominations is Nov 15.