Surat: Over 10,000 security personnel have been deployed to maintain law and order during the voting for the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) election on Sunday.
Total 4,500 police personnel, 3,841 home guard, five companies of state reserve police and two companies of paramilitary force will be on bandobast duties in the city.
“Our senior officers will keep a close watch on sensitive booths and 27 quick response teams will address any emergency situation. Police also held mohalla meetings to create awareness and ensure peaceful polling,” said Surat city police commissioner Ajay Tomar.
Meanwhile, police raided 587 liquor dens of bootleggers and seized liquor worth Rs 40 lakh in the past 20 days. Police also seized 29,750 bottles of Indian Made Foreign Liquor worth Rs 37.65 lakh and 9,337 litre country liquor worth Rs 1.86 lakh.
Meanwhile, people who are Covid-19 positive will be allowed to vote during the election after wearing a PPE kit and following social distancing guidelines. District collector and chief district election officer Dhaval Patel declared that the patients need to carry a certificate from doctors approved as per government guideline that they are fit to vote.
The Covid19 positive or suspected patients can vote only during the last hour for voting on Sunday and will have to come in an ambulance. The temperature of voters will be checked with a thermal gun and they will be provided soap, sanitiser to clean hand along with gloves to ensure safety.
During the last one month, police have arrested 160 absconders while 9,542 persons were detained as part of preventive actions. Total of 74 repeated offenders were externed from the city while 71 were sent to different jails of state under PASA.