Cachar Administration fully prepared with tight security protocol

way2barak, October 5: :– The counting of votes for the first Silchar Municipal Corporation (SMC) Election will be held on Tuesday October 6, with the district administration completing all necessary preparations for the smooth, orderly manner of counting process. First  counting of postal ballot papers will begin at 7:30 AM and then counting of votes in the counting halls will commence at 8 AM at the ISTT, Ramnagar, Silchar.

A total of seven counting halls will be used for the counting process with 14 tables in each hall. Depending on the number of votes polled in a ward, three to four tables will be allocated for counting the votes of each ward. The counting is expected to be completed within a maximum of four rounds while wards where comparatively fewer votes have been polled are likely to be completed within three rounds.

Following the polling, the ballot boxes of the 40 wards have been kept securely in the designated strong rooms. For ensuring the smooth conduct of the counting process, each counting table will have one Micro Observer, one Counting Assistant and one Counting Supervisor while two Assistant Returning Officers (AROs) will be deployed in each counting hall. The counting process will be conducted under the overall supervision of R.O & District Election Officer and Cachar District Commissioner, Rahul Kumar Gupta, IAS . Around 700 government employees will be engaged in the counting process.

In pursuance of the instructions issued by the Assam State Election Commission, the District Administration has also put in place a strict security protocol regarding the carrying of mobile phones and other restricted articles inside the Counting Hall. As per the instructions issued only the Election Observer, District Commissioner, District Development Commissioner, Co-District Commissioner, Additional District Commissioner, Assistant Returning Officer, Election Officer, Senior Superintendent of Police, Additional Superintendent of Police, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Officer-in-Charge of the concerned Police Station and officers or officials specifically authorised by the District Commissioner will be permitted to carry mobile phones beyond the entry point of the Counting Hall. No other person will be permitted to carry a mobile phone beyond the entry point. Laptops, tablets, digital or smart watches, earbuds, calculators, camera enabled spectacles, camera pens, batteries, radios, transistors, transmitters and other electronic devices will also remain prohibited inside the Counting Hall except for authorised officers or officials.

The administration has further prohibited the carrying of knives, scissors, fireworks, matchboxes, arms, ammunition, weapons, lathis and other hazardous articles inside the Counting Hall. Water bottles, drinking glasses, outside food, umbrellas, large bags, ink fountain pens, containers, tiffin carriers, lighters and tools of any kind will also not be permitted. However, counting agents of candidates will be allowed to carry writing pads and pens for noting counting related information. Video cameras, sound recorders and other recording devices will also remain prohibited, except cameras specifically authorised by the competent authority. Petrol, diesel, alcohol, gas, chemicals, wood, acids, intoxicating substances, drugs and other inflammable substances will not be allowed inside the counting premises. All forms of tobacco products are strictly prohibited while articles capable of amplifying voice or sound, political banners, flags, pamphlets, festoons, vibrant coloured Gulal and any other article or substance likely to hamper the counting process will also not be permitted inside the Counting Hall. All concerned have been requested to strictly comply with the instructions and extend full cooperation to the security personnel and election officials to ensure the smooth and orderly conduct of the counting process.

Meanwhile, the District Administration, Cachar has also issued guidelines for recognised journalists and authorised media personnel who have already been issued media passes for coverage of the counting of votes at ISTT, Ramnagar, Silchar. Media personnel have been requested to carry and prominently display their valid counting day media passes while entering the designated media areas and during movement within the counting premises. A Media Centre will be established at ISTT, Ramnagar where necessary communication facilities will be made available for authorised media personnel. They have been requested to follow the instructions of the Media Centre In-charge and officials of the Media and Public Relations Cell, SMC Election, 2026, particularly regarding movement to and from the counting halls and to use the Media Centre for obtaining and disseminating official counting updates, trends and other information shared through authorised channels.

Media groups will be accompanied in small numbers by officials of the Media and Public Relations Cell to the counting halls at regular intervals for brief visits and journalists will be required to remain with the accompanying officials and return to the designated media area after the visit. They have also been requested to maintain strict discipline and decorum inside the counting premises and cooperate fully with election officials and security personnel. Designated facilities at the Media Centre are to be used for mobile phones and communication equipment in accordance with the arrangements prescribed by the authorities while counting trends and results are to be obtained only through authorised channels. Public Address Systems will also be used for orderly dissemination of counting trends and results to the media and the general public.

The District Administration has strictly instructed media personnel not to capture, photograph, record, reproduce or transmit images or audio-visual footage of actual votes recorded on ballot papers under any circumstances. Media personnel will not be permitted to enter any counting hall without being accompanied by designated officials of the Media and Public Relations Cell and will not be allowed to obstruct or interfere with the counting process, counting officials, election personnel, security arrangements or the movement of authorised personnel. They will also not be permitted to remain inside the counting halls beyond the time allowed for the brief media visit or to approach, handle, inspect or record ballot papers, counting tables, election documents or any material connected with the actual counting process. Crossing barricades, restricted areas or security cordons or attempting to enter any area not specifically designated for media access will not be permitted.

Journalists have further been requested not to treat unofficial information, personal observations or unverified trends as official counting results and to rely only on information disseminated through authorised channels. Live reporting or transmission from any restricted area in violation of the prescribed security and media access arrangements will also not be permitted. The District Administration has requested all concerned to strictly adhere to the prescribed instructions and cooperate with the election officials, security personnel and the Media and Public Relations Cell in the interest of maintaining the sanctity, secrecy, discipline and orderly conduct of the counting process.

This is stated in a press release issued by the Regional Office of Information & Public Relations, Barak Valley Zone, Silchar, Assam.