Kohima, 19 April (MTNews): The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Nagaland, Vyasan R, IAS, along with officials, briefed the media after the conduct of polls for the 18th Lok Sabha Election 2024 in the Nagaland Parliamentary Constituency at AWO Ki, D-Block, Kohima, on 19th April 2024.
Vyasan R, IAS, stated that the Lok Sabha election process across the state had been very peaceful, with a 56% polling turnout reported as of the filing of this report. He mentioned that during the enforcement of the model code of conduct from 16th March 2024, enforcement agencies, through combined efforts, had seized lakhs worth of illegal cash, liquor, and drugs.
During the election process, over 14,400 personnel, including reserves, were deployed, and a total of 8,800 vehicles were engaged. Vyasan informed that in terms of vehicle requisitioning, no vehicles were requisitioned from outside the state, unlike previous elections. All vehicles were requisitioned from within the state, primarily consisting of government vehicles.
He also highlighted a unique feature of this election: many polling stations were managed by women and Persons with Disabilities (PwDs). Specifically, all 28 polling stations in the Northern Angami-1 Assembly Constituency were manned by women.
Regarding the security aspects of the election, the State Police Nodal Officer for Lok Sabha elections, IGP (Range) Limasunep Jamir, IPS, stated that the polling process throughout the state was peaceful, with no major reports of law and order issues or violence.
Jamir provided details on the total number of police personnel deployed for the entire exercise, indicating that a total of 48 companies of CMPF, 46 companies of IRB & NAP, 600 personnel of home guards, 5,761 personnel of district executive police, and the services of 9,583 village guards were utilized, mobilizing a total of 22,954 security personnel.
He further mentioned that apart from Wokha, where three criminal cases related to impersonation were taken cognizance of, no formal complaints were received from elsewhere in the state.
Commissioner & Returning Officer for the Nagaland Parliamentary Constituency, Sushil Kumar Patel, IAS, highlighted the process of conducting elections and the handling of postal ballots and service ballots.