As many as 21 companies of Central police forces, including the CRPF and BSF, and the state police have been deployed to ensure that Tura bypolls — scheduled for Thursday — is held without any disturbances. Meghalaya Joint Chief Electoral Officer S Kharlyngdoh told The Indian Express on Wednesday that 202 polling stations have been identified as hypersensitive. The Tura Lok Sabha constituency is spread over the three districts of Garo Hills — East, West and South Garo Hills — that has 595 polling stations and 4,82,512 electorates.He added that there was no major apprehension of disruption of poll process, the department was not taking any chances. “We don’t have any intelligence inputs on militants disrupting the election in the areas that shares their border with Bangladesh and Assam, but we are ensuring that adequate security arrangements are in place,” he said, adding that the Central police forces will man the polling stations and the local police will monitor the law and order situation. Purno A Sangma’s daughter Agatha is contesting as an NCP candidate from the Tura seat . Counting will take place on May 25.
