Director General of Police (Elections) Ashutosh Shukla on Sunday instructed police officers in the central zone to carry out effective patrolling in areas identified as sensitive and vulnerable in certain pockets.

He instructed Superintendents of Police to take steps to ensure peaceful conduct of polls and make sure that public exercise their franchise without fear. He was in Tiruchi to review poll preparedness at central zone and Tiruchi.

Inspector General of Police, Central Zone, V. Varatharaju, Commissioner of Police A. Amalraj, Deputy Inspector General of Police of Tiruchi and Thanjavur ranges and Superintendents of Police of Tiruchi, Pudukottai, Karur, Perambalur, Ariyalur, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam district besides the Deputy Commissioners of Police, Tiruchi City, attended the meeting.

He reviewed the preparedness for polling process, law and order maintenance during pre-poll, on the day of polling and post poll period and other supplementary activities related to maintenance of law and order as well as enforcement of Model Code of Conduct.

He asked the police officers to visit those areas which were vulnerable and take steps to instil confidence among the public. He also asked them to identify and utilise manpower resources for election duty.

A review with respect to execution of non-bailable warrants pending against anti-social elements was taken up. As many as 1,904 non-bailable warrants were executed since the issue of notification by the Election Commission. Instruction was issued to identify trouble mongers and initiate appropriate action against them under preventive sections of law.

He reviewed the enforcement of model code of conduct. A total number of 372 Flying Squads and 129 Static Surveillance Teams have been formed to monitor enforcement in the zone and Tiruchi city. A press release said 656 cases were booked for violating model code of conduct. He asked the SPs to ensure effective functioning of various teams.

The central zone, with six parliamentary constituencies, has 11,304 polling stations in 5,783 locations. Of this, 723 stations have been identified as vulnerable / critical. As many as 995 zonal mobile parties have been formed to cover the booth locations.