The Hindu : Front Page : Poll panel gives assurance to court

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Tuesday, Oct 19, 2010
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Poll panel gives assurance to court

Special Correspondent

Says adequate security in place in sensitive booths
Police told to take strict action against offences

KOCHI: The State Election Commission on Monday informed a Division Bench of the Kerala High Court that sufficient police force had been deployed in as many as 3,218 politically sensitive polling booths to ensure free and fair local body elections.

In a statement filed before the Bench comprising Justice K.M. Joseph and Justice M.C. Hari Rani, the Election Commission added that the police had taken special care and attention in these sensitive areas to provide adequate security measures to the electorate and polling officials for the smooth conduct of the elections.

Of the 3,218 politically sensitive booths, Kannur had 1,345 booths while Ernakulam had 442 booths.

As many as 84 and 42 booths had been identified as vulnerable ones in Kannur and Palakkad districts respectively.

The statement was filed in response to a batch of around 50 writ petitions seeking police protection at various polling booths.

The statement said apart from deploying the police force, Excise, Forest and Motor Vehicles department employees, 15,000 special police were being deployed to ensure free and fair elections.

Moreover, seven companies of police force from Karnataka were being deployed. Police force from Tamil Nadu had also been requisitioned.

The Commission pointed out that mobile group patrol and law and order patrol with wireless sets and mobile phone facilities were being arranged to get in touch with each polling station and evaluate the state of affairs in each polling station.

Arrangements had been made for using video cameras in sensitive and vulnerable booths specified by the District Collector in consultation with the District Superintendent of Police and the Election Observer.

Besides, “striking forces” were being deployed in all districts under the Superintendent of Police, Deputy Superintendents of Police, and Circle Inspectors with about 9 units to meet any untoward contingencies during the election period.

The statement further said that strict instructions had been given to the police officials to take “stringent and instantaneous action” in accordance with the law to prevent bogus voting, impersonation, booth capturing and other electoral offences.

It said that thorough checking of vehicles would be done for three days before the day of polling, on polling day and till the completion of the counting of votes, to ensure that no undesirable elements or arms and ammunitions were smuggled into the constituency from outside.

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