Crowd gathered at DC Office in time of nomination scrutiny for polls

Shillong: The district administration of East Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya faced flouting of orders as a large crowd gathered in support of various candidates during the scrutiny of nominations on Wednesday.

Candidates such as Kyrmen Shylla of the United Democratic Party (UDP) and Nehlang Lyngdoh of the NPP brought significant numbers of supporters.
Almost half of the vehicles in Khliehriat were decorated with party flags and the road, including the national highway passing through the area, was jammed with supporters and vehicles.
A large crowd also gathered inside the DC office during the scrutiny of nomination papers.

After the candidates finished the proceedings, their supporters were hurried away.
East Jaintia Hills DC A Baranwal said they had deployed police but since the building was new, perimeters had not yet been set up, allowing people to enter from other areas. went

He said he had to take the decision to avoid dispersing the crowd as it could have created a law and order situation, leading to minor violations of orders.
Baranwal confirmed that the CEO’s office and the commission are regularly reviewing the preparations for the elections and the administration is following the prescribed guidelines to ensure free and fair elections in the district.

“If we want to disperse the crowd, we have to make a call, it can create a law and order situation and that’s why we allowed this small breach to ensure that,” he said. That no untoward incident takes place.”

When asked about the pockets that have been identified as vulnerable, Baranwal said they are spread across the district and focus on villages with a history of electoral violence, such as Sutnga and Byndihati.
“Similar complaints have been received about Rymbai and wherever political rivalry is intense, they have been classified as unsafe areas,” he said.
There are 64 polling stations in the district which are considered unsafe and the administration has requested the CEO and the commission to allow webcasting of the entire polling process in 84 polling stations.
So far, the district has received two SSB companies and the total requirement was seven companies.

Five more teams are expected to reach Khliehriat after the completion of Tripura elections.