32 critical polling stations in Dakshina Kannada district

MANGALURU: Dakshina Kannada deputy commissioner Ravi Kumar MR said that 32 polling stations in the district have been identified as critical, while five are vulnerable.
While two vulnerable polling stations each are identified in Moodbidri and Mangaluru City North constituencies, one was found in Belthangady.
Ravi Kumar told reporters on Tuesday, that vulnerable polling stations are identified based on the complaints regarding threats the police and returning officers received in those areas. Police have already taken the accused in such cases into preventive custody, and the polling stations will be provided additional security, the DC said.
Meanwhile, webcasting has been arranged in 939 polling stations, including 32 critical booths. Further, micro-observers have been appointed for 164 polling stations.
A total 676 polling stations are under the surveillance of central paramilitary forces. While 26 checkposts are created in the district, 10 are located on the interstate borders, he said.
Meanwhile, 28 companies of central paramilitary forces have arrived in the district, of which 10 are in the Mangaluru city police limits. City police commissioner N Kuldeep Kumar R Jain said around 1,200 personnel, including Home Guards have been deployed for the election. In addition, there are CRPF, KSRP and CAR personnel deployed at strategic locations. Also, 64 sector mobile teams have been constituted with sub-inspectors and inspectors.
Meanwhile, a tight vigil at the Dakshina Kannada border is being maintained. State reserve police personnel have been deployed at 14 porous points across the areas bordering Kerala in the district, to check any illegalities and illegal transportation of cash and other materials.
Further, in the eight interstate checkposts, Kerala police along with Dakshina Kannada district police have been deployed, and are carrying out checking, stated Dakshina Kannada SP Vikram Amate.
In addition, both Dakshina Kannada and Kerala police are carrying out patrolling at the inter-district checkposts.