Meghalaya CEO reviews security scenario in Rajabala

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaOctober 28, 2021

Security has been beefed up in Rajabala constituency ahead of the October 30-bypoll following the clash between supporters of two political parties.

After reviewing the security scenario in the poll going constituency on Thursday, Chief Electoral Officer Frederick Roy Kharkongor said a detailed discussion was held on the incident at Rajabala which took place on Wednesday.

He informed that the district election machinery has swung into action and arrested three persons based on the FIRs that have been filed.

“More arrests are likely to be made,” Kharkongor said while informing that they have placed six tracking reserves in and around the area for area domination as well as for patrolling.

The clash between supporters of both the Congress and the NPP took place at the village of Garodubi under Rajabala constituency. Both sides have filed FIR and counter FIR.

He said that the police observer is also camping in Rajabala while the Deputy Commissioner and the Superintendent of Police along with the SDPO and OC of Phulbari are closely monitoring the situation.

He added that the flying squads team are also doing random patrolling all around that area which currently section 144 CrPC is being imposed.

Apart from these measures, Kharkongor said the district administration is keeping a close watch and strict vigil to ensure that there are no recurrences of such activities in those areas.

“Although they said it was just a random incident, it was not premeditated as such, it is a group clash and 11 people were injured, they sustained only minor injuries no one was hospitalized. They are keeping a close tap on the unfolding events,” he stated.

Meanwhile, the CEO has instructed the district election machinery to maintain close vigit right up to the day of poll to ensure that all such apprehensions should be dealt with firmly and should be dealt with proper use of law and order machinery.

As many as five candidates are contesting for the Rajabala bypoll. These include Dr Zaman’s wife Hashina Yasmin Mondal from the Congress, former legislator and currently sitting MDC of Batabari Ashahel D Shira from UDP and three others – MD Abdus Saleh from NPP, Kingston B Marak (BJP) and Carla R Sangma (Independent).