The possible threat of elephant attacks on polling parties has led to the election officials to depute special teams to chase away the wild pachyderms. Satellite phones are being provided for the first time, to election teams for the April 26 elections to Tura Parliamentary seat.
This decision was taken during a high level meeting of election officials with the Chief Election Officer, P Naik, at Tura on Wednesday.
The Returning Officer to Tura Parliamentary seat, FR Kharkongor, informed that six forest patrol parties have been put on standby to move at a moments notice to any location where elephant movement is reported.
The most vulnerable zones for elephant intrusion are in Dadenggre, Selsella and the border region of Dalu and Purakhasia. Four deaths were reported in Selsella area a couple of weeks ago, when a rogue elephant went on the rampage destroying houses and standing crops.
The election officials are also providing twenty satellite phones to poll officials covering shadow areas where mobile phone coverage do not exist. Police wireless sets and installation of BSNL antennas are also being taken up for an overall coverage of the polls by the election officials.
Previous elections witnessed delayed reporting of the polling percentage due to lack of proper communication network.
The Returning Officer also informed that law and order has so far been peaceful in the run up to the polls but the recent blasts in Assam has raised concern. Night patrolling of the international border has been intensified by the BSF while the police and the army are conducting combing operations in sensitive areas of Garo Hills bordering neighbouring Dhubri and Goalpara districts of Assam.