The army has been deployed in sensitive areas and security beefed up throughout Tripura to ensure free and fair elections in the state slated for February 26, Chief Secretary V Thulasidas said.

The state government has taken necessary precaution to make the elections free and fair and the central government has also assured all possible help to fend off insurgents trying to disrupt the poll, Thulasidas said in an address to the people of the state over Doordarshan on Tuesday night.

He said that the central government was despatching more para-military forces and army units as required by the state government. The strength of the BSF forces along the 840-km border with Bangladesh has also been increased, he added.

Security forces had launched a joint action throughout the state to seize illegal arms and check criminal activities, Thulasidas said adding the security situation was being reviewed on a day-to-day basis.

For the first time, Electronic Voting Machines would be used throughout the entire state during polling.