Guwahati: The Election Commission of India on Friday ordered the sealing of Meghalaya’s International border with Bangladesh and its inter-state border with Assam till March 2, to ensure free and fair assembly elections in the state.
The Meghalaya Assembly polls for 59 out of 60 constituencies will be held on February 27 and the counting of votes will be held on March 2.
Significantly, polling in the Sohiong assembly constituency has been postponed following the demise of the State’s former Home Minister and United Democratic Party (UDP) candidate from the seat HDR Lyngdoh.
The official said that the movement of people in the border areas will be restricted, and all districts with an international border with Bangladesh have been asked to issue orders to seal.
Meanwhile, the operation of ‘border haats’ has also been deferred till the completion of the election process, official stated.
The official further added, if the unregulated movement of individuals between the two countries is allowed, there is a likelihood of law-and-order problems leading to danger to human life and disturbance to public tranquillity.
Notably, Meghalaya has shared a 443 km border with Bangladesh and 885 km with Assam.
