The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Anti-mine vehicle for policemen

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Thursday, May 08, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Anti-mine vehicle for policemen

S. Harpal Singh

It can safely transport personnel in extremist-affected areas

373 polling booths considered extremist-affected
333 identified as sensitive; 72 as hypersensitive

SAFETY FIRST: The anti-mine vehicle that will be deployed to transport security personnel to polling stations located in extremist-affected areas in Adilabad district.

ADILABAD: For the first time an anti-mine vehicle will be used in Adilabad district for transporting policemen for bandobust duty during the byelections to Adilabad Lok Sabha and Khanapur Assembly constituencies.

The vehicle will be used on such access roads to polling stations where a possibility of planting landmines by extremists exists.

The vehicle can safely carry adequate number of personnel through danger zones and will also go around places that are categorised as extremist-affected. Adilabad Lok Sabha encompasses seven Assembly segments of Adilabad, Boath, Mudhole, Nirmal, Khanapur, Asifabad and Sirpur (T). The mandals of Bejjur, Dahegaon, Tiryani, Asifabad, Kerameri and Sirpur (U) located within the boundaries of Sirpur (T), Asifabad and Khanapur constituencies are areas where Maoist influence can be seen still. Though road connectivity to these mandals has improved since the last elections, there are sections where less of human activity is witnessed. This condition can be exploited by naxalites to plant mines.

Weapons deposited

“Some 18 licenced weapons have been deposited in view of the byelections. Already 522 of them were deposited with the police from areas that have a history of weapon snatching by Maoists. As many as 252 persons were booked under sections relevant to stop breach of peace and disturbance of public tranquillity. A special drive has seen 43 non-baliable warrants being executed against previous election offenders and those involved in body harming crimes,” said Adilabad Superintendent of Police Anil Kumar about security measures being taken for smooth conduct of elections.

Demarcation

Sub-Inspectors concerned have started the 100 metre demarcation near polling stations and removal of construction debris near them.

Nearly 373 polling booths are considered as extremist-affected in the Lok Sabha constituency. Besides, 333 are known as sensitive and 72 as hypersensitive.

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