GUWAHATI, Feb 14: The Centre today air-dashed two battalions of the Army and 60 companies of para-military forces to Assam to help conduct smooth elections even as militant groups stepped up their activities to sabotage the polls.State government sources said here tonight that the two Army battalions would replace the CRPF battalions which are currently deployed in Nagaon, Kokrajhar and Mangaldoi – the three worst militancy-affected districts –– as the CRPF personnel are being shifted for poll duty. Sixty companies of para-military forces also arrived here tonight after having been airlifted from other parts of the country.However, the State Government continues to complain. Sources pointed out that hardly 10 per cent of their requirement had been met. Earlier, the Assam Government had asked for 600 additional companies of Central forces.Meanwhile, militant groups including the ULFA today burnt down several wooden bridges which were connected to polling centres.Attempts to take over at least threepolice outposts - at Darrang Giri in Goalpara district, Bebejia in Nagaon district and Bidyanagar in Bongaigaon district - were foiled by security personnel.An AGP unit secretary at Senchowa (Nagaon) and a local BJP leader at Gauripur (Cachar) were killed last evening. Election offices of the AGP and its ally, the CPI(M), were burnt down in North Boitamari in Bongaigaon.Despite the threat, polling officials have begun moving to their respective centres. Meanwhile, the Government and groups of leading citizens have separately asked the ULFA to restrain its activities and let the people exercise their democratic right.The ruling AGP and its three allies - the CPI, CPI(M) and United People's Party of Assam have been the worst sufferers so far. The Congress has been accused of being involved in the deteriorating poll scenario.Jayashree Goswami Mahanta, wife of Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, who is the star candidate in Nagaon, alleged that the Congress was taking advantage of theprevailing situation. Speaking to The Indian Express, she said: ``In several places, Congress workers have launched a whisper campaign that the militants would shoot down anyone who dared to come out to vote''.The Congress is expected to benefit from the ULFA threat. Intelligence reports suggest that polling would be unhindered in the areas having minority voters and tea labourers both of which are traditional Congress vote banks.
