No additional forces sent: Mahanta

As polling day draws nearer, incidents of violence are increasing in the State. The main targets are party members and leaders of the ruling Asom Gana Prishad AGP. Two of AGP8217;s district secretaries have been killed while two others were injured. Earlier this week, ULFA militants attacked an AGP minister inGuwahati.

Fearing an escalation of violence on polling day, Mahanta said, 8220;Voters have been threatened, my party members are constantly being threatened. Though the EC has allowed a two-phase polling in Kashmir and additional forces are being sent there, nothing is being done for Assam8221;.

At present, the Chief Minister is camping in Nagaon where ULFA militants yesterday killed a campaign manager of his wife, Jayashri Mahanta 8212; Nagaon8217;s LS candidate. Mahanta said he and his Chief Secretary had sent several requests to the EC and the Home Ministry. 8220;Today the Chief Secretary sent another message to the EC. But no reply has come as yet,8221; he said.

Earlier this week, following the Chief Minister8217;s request for additional forces, the EC and the Prime Minister had assured him that additional forces would definitely be sent to Assam. But with just a day left for polling, the administration, said Mahanta, is facing serious problems in deploying enough forces in sensitive booths and ensuring the security ofvoters and party members. Of the 17,000 polling stations in Assam, about 11,000 have been identified as sensitive. The Chief Minister had earlier requested the EC to hold the polls in two phases. 8220;They said the Home Ministry has reviewed the situation and there was no need for polling in two phases. But they assured me that additional forces would be deployed,8221; Mahanta said, adding, 8220;we are trying our best to ensure free and fair polls. But there will be trouble and the Centre will be to blame8221;.