Unprecedented security for Nagaland polls

KOHIM: The stage is set for assembly polls in Nagaland, which goes to the hustings tomorrow amidst unprecedented security.

Over 13 lakh voters will exercise their franchise at 1780 polling stations to determine the fate of 218 candidates in the fray for 60 seats in the house.

A security blanket has been thrown over the entire north eastern state which reported pre-poll violence and interference by underground cadre.

Official sources said polling personnel along with security personnel started moving to polling booths at remote villages from concerned district headquarters towns since yesterday.

There are 40 polling booths in Nagaland where polling parties have to move on foot to reach the polling stations as there are no motorable roads, the sources said.

Some of these polling stations have very few voters like the one at Kingpou village in Noklak assembly constituency in Tuengsang has only nine voters.

Electronic voting machines will be used in all polling stations, which are being manned for the first time by booth-level assistance committees comprising village elders to help presiding officers verify voters.

A total 53 per cent of the electorate belong to the age group of 18-35 years, 31 per cent to 36-55 years, 13 per cent to 56-75 years and only 3 per cent above the age of 75 years.

Men voters outnumber their women counterparts by a slight margin, while in 17 polling stations the women outnumber men voters, election office sources said.