The Hindu : Tight security in naxal-affected areas

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Mar 23, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka - Udupi

Tight security in naxal-affected areas

By Our Staff Correspondent

UDUPI, MARCH 22. The Deputy Commissioner, S.R. Umashankar, said here on Monday that maximum security arrangements would be made for the peaceful conduct of elections in naxal-affected areas in the district.

Briefing presspersons about the arrangements for the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, he said 18 booths in the Karkala Assembly segment had been identified as hypersensitive. As many as 2,000 policemen would be deployed in the district in addition to mobile and stationary squads. Electronic voting machines (EVMs) would be used in all districts in the district.

He said there would 831 polling stations in the district — 108 in Kaup Assembly segment, 135 in Udupi, 142 in Brahmavar, 155 in Kundapur, 151 in Byndoor and 140 in Karkala. A total of 1,662 EVMs at the rate of two per polling station would be used. As many as 123 EVMs would be kept as backup. As many as 4,570 polling staff would be deployed in the district. Half of them would be from other districts. Care would be taken to see that the polling staff were not natives of the taluks or working in the designated taluks.

He said the people in the district were being educated on the use of the EVMs. Ten teams had been formed for this purpose. They were covering two booths every day. The first round of EVM awareness creation would be completed by the month-end. All the candidates standing for elections had to submit four affidavits on their criminal background (if any), their assets, educational qualifications and dues to the Government. The last date for filing nominations was April 7. The nominations would be scrutinised on April 8. The last date for withdrawal of nominations was April 10. The elections would be held on April 26. The votes would be counted on May 13. The Udupi Lok Sabha Constituency comprised Kundapur, Byndoor, Brahmavar, Udupi and Kaup Assembly segments in Udupi district, and Surathkal, Bantwal and Moodabidri Assembly segments in Dakshina Kannada district. The number of voters in constituency was 11,36,590, of whom 59,0747 were women. The number of voters in Udupi district was 8,44,413 (4,42,291 women).

Mr. Umashankar said the district officials had been instructed not to participate in public functions with political leaders as the model code of conduct was in force. The cooperation of the political parties had been sought to implement the code. They had been given instructions not to deface walls. No tenders would be floated. Except for the works connected to drinking water supply, no schemes would be taken up. Political parties had been told to inform about the places of their rallies and meetings in advance to the police.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka

News Update

Stories in this Section

Tight security in naxal-affected areas

Competition spreading inferiority complex in children: academic

`Competition spreading inferiority complex'