EC reviews situation in 5 States

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, MAY 2. The Election Commission today reviewed the law and order situation in the five States where Assembly polls are to be held on May 10. The Commission expressed concern over unabated pre-poll violence in Assam.

The Chief Election Commissioner, Dr. M. S. Gill, spoke to the Union Home Secretary, Mr. Kamal Pande, and said adequate security arrangements should be made in Assam. According to Commission sources, the CEC said the Home Ministry should also rush additional reinforcements of Central para-military forces to Assam if the situation demanded.

Dr. Gill is leaving for Kolkata tomorrow and will hold meetings with the top officials of the West Bengal Government. He is also scheduled to meet officials from hyper-sensitive Assembly constituencies of the State.

UNI reports:

The Commission decided to send additional 20 Central observers to certain sensitive constituencies of West Bengal, Kerala and Tamil Nadu which have witnessed incidents of pre-poll violence and clashes.

Of the 20 observers, ten are being sent to the West Bengal constituencies of Midnapore, Hooghly, 24 North and South Parganas, Nadia, Howrah and Bankura. Two observers are being sent to the north Kerala constituency of Kannur while eight are being sent to Villipuram, Cuddalore, Ramanathapuram and Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu.

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