Shillong, February 20: With the stage set for the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) and Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) elections on February 21, authorities have reinforced security measures to ensure a smooth polling process.
Polling personnel were dispatched on Thursday to their designated stations. In Shillong, officials departed from the Inter-State Bus Terminal (ISBT) in Mawiong to various polling stations across the region. Deputy Commissioner of East Khasi Hills District, RM Kurbah, informed that over four lakh voters are registered in Shillong alone.
“Around 4,63,980 electors in Shillong, this includes service voters also,” the DC said.
The Deputy Commissioner confirmed that all polling teams are en route to their assigned locations and clarified that no high-security or special polling stations have been designated for this election.
“For East Khasi Hills, minus Sohra and Pynursla, we have around 733 polling stations. Some teams departed yesterday for far-flung locations, while the majority left today. Preparations are in place, and today, around 711 polling teams were dispatched, following the deployment of 22 teams yesterday,” Kurbah said.
To ensure law and order, additional security personnel have been deployed.
East Khasi Hills SP City, Dr. Dara Aswaghosh, said, “Thirty-four polling stations have been identified as vulnerable, while five are classified as critical, warranting extra deployment of state armed police forces. The State Armed Police Force will be stationed within the polling stations. Quick Reaction Teams (QRTs) have been deployed across different thanas, actively patrolling and responding to any disturbances.”
Security has been further intensified at select polling stations in KHADC, with additional forces deployed as a precautionary measure. The district has a total of 931 polling stations, categorized into P-2 and P-1 zones for better security management.
The much-anticipated elections will be followed by the counting of votes on February 24.