Indo-Bangla border sealed, security increased for upcoming Tripura bypolls

Agartala: Security has been beefed up and the Indo-Bangla international border was sealed for peaceful conduct of the Manu Assembly bypoll on Saturday, Tripura Chief Electoral Officer Ashutosh Jindal said on Friday. [caption id=“attachment_1709805” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image. AFP[/caption] “Standard security measures have been taken for peaceful conduct of the Manu bypoll. Central paramilitary forces, including CRPF, are patrolling in the constituency areas, BSF is put on maximum alert and the Indo-Bangla international border is sealed,” Jindal told reporters. A total of 46 polling stations have been set up, 230 polling personnel and 38 micro observers appointed for the bypoll in which 38,843 voters, including 18,929 women voters would exercise their franchise. The Manu(ST-reserve) Assembly constituency fell vacant after former forest, rural and industries and commerce minister Jitendra Chowdhury was elected to the Lok Sabha. Although six candidates fielded their nominations for the seat, the main contest would be between the ruling CPI-M candidate Prabhat Chowdhury and opposition Congress nominee Mailafru Mog. BJP has fielded Nirmal Kumar Tripura and TMC fielded Angthai Mog as their candidates. The rest two are independents. Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, Leader of Opposition (Congress) Sudip Roy Burman and Tripura BJP president Sudhindra Dasgupta campaigned for their respective candidates in the constituency. PTI