Lagatar24 Desk
Shillong, Feb 25: The Election Commission of India has ordered the sealing of Meghalaya’s International border with Bangladesh till March 2. 59 of the 60 constituencies for the Meghalaya Assembly will hold elections on February 27, and the results will be tallied on March 2.
Significantly, voting in the Sohiong assembly constituency has been delayed since HDR Lyngdoh, a former state home minister and candidate for the seat on behalf of the United Democratic Party (UDP), has passed away.
Meghalaya and Bangladesh share a 443 km border and an 885 km border, respectively.
The state border with Assam and the international border between Meghalaya and Meghalaya have both been sealed, according to FR Kharkongor, chief electoral officer for Meghalaya.
“We have taken preventive measures to ensure a free and fair election in the State. Section 144 of CrPC has been imposed along the international bordering areas in the state,” Kharkongor said.
In the meantime, the East Khasi Hills district’s District Magistrate on Friday issued an order declaring that from February 24 to March 2, all human movement will be severely forbidden within a one-kilometer radius of the district’s border with Bangladesh.
“It is necessary that the International border with Bangladesh must be sealed and movement to and from the international border should be restricted. If such unregulated movement of individuals between the two countries is allowed, then there is a likelihood of law and order problem leading to danger to human life, safety and disturbance to public tranquillity,” said the order copy.
Along the bordering areas, Section 144 of the CrPC has also been enforced by the district administration of the East Khasi Hills district.
On February 27, a single phase of voting for the 60 seats in the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly will take place. On March 2, the votes will be tallied.
