AGARTALA, July 8 (TIWN): The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) approved seventeen training companies of the Border Security Forces (BSF) as additional central force for election duty in the three tier panchayat polls schedulednon July 15, State Election Commissioner Yatendra Kumar said here today.

Speaking to reporters at the civil secretariat here this evening,  the official said that the MHA had approved 17 BSF training companies in response to a plea from the state government.
Tripura earlier sought 40 companies of central para military forces for election duty. After the ministry rejected the plea, the state Home Department sought 17 training companies for mobilization in polling stations, counting halls and strong rooms. 
The MHA, however, stated in its approval letter to the state government that the central forces given to the state for election duty 'might be used for area domination and laq abd order duty'. They wouldn't be able to frisk voters on their way inside the polling stations, State Election Commissioner Kumar said. 
A total of 12 thousand security personnel including armed and unarmed state police, TSR jawans etc would be deployed in the poll duty.
In a recent exercise, the State Election Commission found that out of 2,615 polling stations in the state slated to be used for the panchayat election,  800 would be given category A security; 1,788 polling stations would be given category B security. The high security polling stations would have mobile police teams, constant vigil and videography by special sector officers, foot patrolling and micro observers.