Stage set for counting of votes amid three-layered security at Galla Mandi

Kanpur: Stage is set for counting of votes of Kanpur Nagar and Akbarpur (Kanpur Dehat) parliamentary constituencies at Naubasta Naveen Galla Mandi and district administration has made elaborate arrangements for free and fair process.
District election officer Vijay Vishwas Pant and SSP Anant Deo along with other district officials inspected the venue and found all necessary requirements for counting were complete and there was proper security for the strong room where EVMs have been kept after polling.
The district magistrate asked all employees involved in counting to reach the venue in time without mobile phone. He reminded them that they had to follow the instructions of Election Commission in true spirit. Round-wise counting would take place in all tables. After completion of a round, second round would begin.
For Kanpur Nagar constituency, there would be 25 rounds of counting while for Akbarpur constituency counting would take place in 31 rounds.
Pant also provided training to the persons to be involved in counting. He asked that officials deputed at counting venue would ensure to note the counting results table-wise to agents and all information should be prepared in stipulated format. The trainees were apprised all details of counting process.
Deo said counting would take place under a three-layer security system. The police force would use drone for security of the venue. He also asked the district police to be on toe and prohibited the entry of heavy vehicles in the city from 2 a.m in the intervening night of May 22 and 23.
To keep a strict vigil on social media he had raised a special team.
The SSP in a specific direction to security personnel asked not to allow anyone inside the Galla Mandi without a pass issued by the district administration. To control the crowd at the venue, the administration has deployed six additional SPs, 10 circle officers and 2,000 cops and apart from them para military force and PAC have been also deployed.
Besides, plainclothed LIU unit and 15 QRT team would also keep a vigil in and outside the venue.
In another preventive direction, the administration has asked the officials to remove all masses of bricks and grits 2 kms away from the gate of Galla Mandi to avoid any misuse. Nagar Nigam had been asked to complete the task before counting begins.
According to district administration sources, counting of one round would take around 40 minutes. The result would be declared after the counting of EVMs and matching of VVPAT slips. The counting would begin at 8 a.m. and 1,100 employees have been trained and deputed for counting of votes.
Meanwhile, volunteers of political parties specially SP and BSP have started invigilating the venue shift wise. The volunteers were allowing the peoples inside the Mandi after proper identification.