State seeks paramilitary forces for polls

The State police have sought 62 companies of paramilitary forces from the Centre to ensure law and order during the Lok Sabha polls scheduled to be held on April 17.

Briefing reporters, Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) M N Reddi said 62 companies have been sought to assist 53 companies of Karnataka State Reserve Police and regular police to ensure violence-free election.

The State will be getting additional force from Maharashtra and Kerala, he said, adding vigilance has been stepped up to prevent flow of illegal cash and other materials by political parties during elections.

“We have established check posts at our borders with Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. We are keeping tabs on illegal movement of cash,” he said.

In Naxal affected areas of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Chikmagalur, Shimoga, and Tumkur distrcits, police have identified some booths as hypersensitive and additional steps have been taken to ensure peaceful polls. He said to prevent illegal flow of cash during Lok Sabha polls, Hubli- Dharwad police have detained a person carrying Rs 45 lakh in cash.  The police recovered the money from the person travelling by a bus at Dharwad, he added.