Guwahati, May 1, 2026: Ahead of the counting of votes, the Assam government has stepped up security measures across the state, with Chief Secretary Ravi Kota directing district administrations and law enforcement agencies to ensure foolproof security arrangements and round-the-clock surveillance of all strong rooms where Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and election materials are stored.
 |
| Representative Image |
The directives were issued during a comprehensive video conference chaired by the Chief Secretary on Friday. The meeting was attended by the Director General of Police, the Additional Chief Secretary (Home), other senior state officials, District Commissioners, Senior Superintendents of Police, and Commanding Officers of battalions from across Assam.
During the review meeting, Kota stressed the importance of adhering strictly to the guidelines laid down by the Election Commission of India for the counting process. He instructed all districts to maintain continuous vigil over strong rooms, ensuring that surveillance systems remain operational at all times and that security arrangements are not compromised under any circumstances.
Officials were directed to carry out mandatory inspections of strong rooms and counting centres before counting day. The Chief Secretary also instructed authorities to deploy adequate police and paramilitary personnel at all sensitive locations and ensure that security forces report for duty well in advance to avoid any logistical issues on the day of counting.
ALSO READ: Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma Hits Back at Abhishek Manu Singhvi Over Allegations
The meeting also reviewed measures to maintain peace and public order after the declaration of results. District administrations were instructed to strictly enforce a dry day on counting day, regulate or prohibit victory processions wherever necessary, and implement preventive measures to avert any incidents of post-poll violence or unrest.
In addition, officials were asked to closely monitor pending electoral offence cases and ensure timely coordination with courts and investigating agencies wherever required.
Reiterating the government's zero-tolerance policy towards any lapse in election management, Kota directed all officials to work in close coordination to ensure that the counting process remains peaceful, transparent, and incident-free while maintaining law and order throughout the post-election period across Assam.
