Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, November 10

For ensuring free and fair polling during the ensuing Assembly elections, Deputy Commissioner-cum- District Election Officer Varinder Kumar Sharma has asked officials to pull up their socks and complete the process of vulnerability mapping well in advance before the imposition of the model code of conduct.

Presiding over a meeting with Assistant Returning Officers (AROs) and police officials, Sharma told the officials to give top priority to the preparation of vulnerability mapping and directed them to send the report after field visits and identifying vulnerable polling booths.

He asked the Police Department to prepare lists of bad characters after holding meetings with local Assistant Commissioners of Police/Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs) and Station House Officers (SHOs). Besides, reports about parole jumpers, history-sheeters, bail jumpers, trouble mongers and others must also be prepared so that close vigil can be

kept on their activities. Further, details about arms/weapons, which would be deposited before elections, and expenditure sensitive constituencies must be prepared.

Sharma also told the Police Department to update the lists of the weapon holders in advance so that they could be ordered to submit the weapons once the code comes into force.