Tamil Nadu - Salem   

Security for Ministers not withdrawn: DGP

DGP Bhola Nath (centre) coming out after reviewing security for elections in Salem on Monday.

SALEM: Director-General of Police G.P. Bhola Nath has denied the charges that security had been withdrawn for Tamil Nadu Ministers.

After reviewing the security in view of polls in districts of Salem, Namakkal, Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri here on Monday, the DGP said that proper security had been provided to all leaders who were carrying on the election campaign. A police team led by a sub inspector and three armed constables had already been provided to these leaders. “But now the three armed constables have been replaced by three paramilitary personnel. The security to the leaders has neither been increased nor decreased. Security has been given to the leaders based on their threat perception and security classification,” he said.

DMK Chief M. Karunanidhi at the recent election meeting at Salem had charged that police had withdrawn security from DMK Ministers, including Veerapandi S. Arumugam and M K. Alagiri.

The DGP further pointed out that the assault case related to Union Minister of Fertilisers and Chemicals M.K. Alagiri in which he was given an anticipatory bail would have to be dealt with by the local police. “I have not received any complaint in this regard. You can ask the local police,” he further claimed.

He also held a detailed review meeting with senior police officials and told them to ensure a free and fair poll. Those who took part in the meeting included IG-cum-City Police Commissioner Sunilkumar Singh, IG (West Zone) Sivanandi, DIG (Salem Zone) G. Venkataraman and SPs N. Arivuselvam (Salem), R. Sudhakar (Dharmapuri), Parveshkumar (Namakkal) and Maheshwari (Krishnagiri).

Security in place

Talking to reporters in Coimbatore, he said all security arrangements were in place for the conduct of smooth and peaceful elections and police machinery would ensure that people can exercise their franchise without any fear.

Adequate precaution was taken to conduct vulnerability mapping for identifying the sensitive and non-sensitive areas. Whether a polling station was sensitive or not was dependent on the area and adequate police strength has been posted in the places accordingly. In addition to the police strength available, additional reinforcements had been sourced from the Central Paramilitary Forces.

In addition to uniformed police personnel, the administration was roping in manpower such as ex-servicemen, retired police personnel and officers,

Home Guards, forest department personnel, NSS and NCC. All booths are getting equal importance.

When contacted, Additional Director-General of Police (Law and Order) K. Radhakrishnan said that in addition to the nearly 1 lakh police personnel available with the Tamil Nadu Police, 200 companies i.e., 15,000 personnel from the Central Paramilitary Forces were being drafted for poll duty.

Total election code violations recorded in the State was 4,539.

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