Over 60\,000 personnel to guard the Capital on election day

Delh

Over 60,000 personnel to guard the Capital on election day

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Plan chalked out on instructions of poll panel, says Patnaik

The Delhi Police has beefed up security in parts of the national capital ahead of the May 12 polling and will deploy over 60,000 personnel, including the Home Guards and paramilitary forces, to ensure a smooth conduct of the election here.

Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik on Thursday said the force has chalked out a detailed plan according to the instructions of the Election Commission of India.

The deployment of force will be at polling booths and there will be patrolling by special reserve parties in vulnerable areas, Mr. Patnaik said.

“The model code of conduct will be strictly enforced. There will be special watch on border areas to foil any attempt of infiltration by anti-social elements. There will be strict vigil to ensure malpractices like liquor peddling and movement of anti-social elements with a purpose to influence voters do not happen,” he said.

Emphasis will be on giving a prompt response to any complaint received, the Delhi Police Commissioner added.

Anti-terror measures are also in place and special arrangements have been made to check sabotage of polling booths, including election rigging, Madhur Verma, Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) and also the spokesperson of the force, said.

The officer added that extra picket teams have been deployed in border areas as well. “Briefings were held with the polling staff on dispersal of EVMs and the routes to be taken to ensure no rigging of EVMs happens on the way. Night patrolling has been intensified to check use of muscle power and money to lure voters,” Mr. Verma said.

Praveer Ranjan, Special Commissioner of Police (Election Cell), said there are 441 critical polling booths in the capital which include densely populated areas, some of which have mixed population and criminally sensitive areas.

Adequate security forces have been deployed at identified polling stations with Quick Reaction Teams deployed for congested areas across the district in case of emergency, another official added. Flying squads and static surveillance team will closely monitor activities, he said.

A police officer also said there are three facets to the security apparatus — at places where EVMs are kept, border checking, and law and order arrangements for polling and counting days. He said police will be involved in enforcing a “dry day”, which will come into effect from 5 p.m. on May 10, and liquor vends will be asked keep their shops closed. A close watch will be on vends near border areas till 6 p.m. on may 12.

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