The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : 15,000 policemen will be on duty

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, May 10, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

15,000 policemen will be on duty

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI, MAY 9. About 15,000 policemen will be on duty as part of a `10-layer security cover' for elections in the three Lok Sabha constituencies in the city on Monday.

The City Police Commissioner, R. Nataraj, told reporters today that they did not anticipate any untoward incident.

He warned of action against those indulging in any action that disrupted public peace and the poll process.

Mobile parties

Hundred and ninety-eight `mobile parties' comprising 6,550 policemen formed the first layer, followed by teams stationed at 338 public places. This was to prevent suspicious elements from congregating at public places.

Armed striking force

The third layer comprised 185 striking force teams, with 16 policemen each and headed by a sub-inspector. These teams would be armed with automatic weapons.

The other layers included a tear-gas squad and teams headed by inspectors of the 81 police stations and the Assistant Commissioners of the 27 ranges in the city.

The Deputy Commissioners of the nine districts and Joint Commissioners of the three zones would have a paramilitary team at their disposal. Different control rooms with separate police teams formed the rest of the security cover, Mr. Nataraj said.

Sensitive booths

Of the 3,145 polling booths in the city, 870 were identified as `sensitive' and additional police personnel would be deployed near these booths. These sensitive booths were located in 224 places. Thirteen teams, headed by an Additional Deputy Commissioner of the Central Crime Branch, would be on rounds. "The teams will act on receiving a complaint from the presiding officer of polling booths," he said. Officers of the city Election Cell said 140 cases pertaining to violation of the model code of conduct were registered against supporters of different parties.

Control rooms

To report any untoward incidents the general public can call the election control rooms at Saidapet: 24330571 (South Chennai); Ayanavaram: 26440649 (Central Chennai); Washermanpet: 25201442 (North Chennai).

Policemen posted

In Chengai East police district, more than 3,000 policemen would be on duty. A large part of South Chennai and parts of North Chennai and Sriperumbudur constituencies come under the jurisdiction of this police district, an officer said.

Adequate police personnel had been posted in 36 places in Tambaram, Alandur, Tiruvotriyur, Villivakkam, Poonamallee that were identified as `sensitive'.

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