The Hindu : Front Page : Security scaled up for phase II of local body polls

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Oct 15, 2006
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Security scaled up for phase II of local body polls

L. Srikrishna

Over 225 booths in and around Chennai "sensitive"

ON ALERT: Armed policemen accompanying ballot boxes being taken in a lorry from Alandur on Saturday. — Photo: BY ARRANGEMENT

CHENNAI: In the wake of widespread violence and complaints of rigging during the first phase of the local body elections, the police have scaled up security arrangements for the second phase, scheduled for Sunday.

The city police's jurisdiction extends across Chennai Corporation, Municipalities, Town Panchayats and Panchayat Unions. Of the total 6,162 booths, polling concluded in 3,382 booths in the first phase. A senior officer told The Hindu that 227 booths had been identified as sensitive. According to the officer, 197 mobile police teams would be deployed for bandobust and 434 striking force police personnel would be stationed at vantage points. Several preventive arrests had been made. The public could cast their votes without fear, the officer said.

City Police Commissioner Letika Saran visited Ambattur, Mount, Madhavaram, Moolakadai and reviewed the bandobust arrangements in place, a city officer said.

In a press statement, she warned of severe action against those spreading rumours about violence.

The police received information that some anti-social elements sent short message service (SMS) to mobile phone numbers that there would be rigging in many booths. According to officials, at least 20 teams of the striking force would be patrolling the southern suburbs, where 950 polling booths in 213 centres are located.

Close to 1,500 policemen, including armed men of the striking force and 9 Assistant Commissioners, 40 Inspectors, 150 Sub-inspectors would be on duty at the St. Thomas Mount police district.

Police officers said action would be taken also against policemen who remain mute spectator to malpractice.

C. Muthukumaraswamy, Observer for local body elections of Kancheepuram district, would be stationed near Pallavaram and people who wished to report complaints could call him on his mobile number at 94440 87174.

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