Tight security cover for polling in State

An unprecedented multi-layer security blanket will be thrown over the State for the parliamentary elections on April 17. The layers will consist of around 85,000 personnel drawn from the State Reserve Police Force, the Home Guards from Andhra Pradesh, the Central Armed Police Forces and the Central Industrial Security Force, among others.

Speaking to reporters here on Monday, M N Reddy, Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order), said the police forces, including personnel from the State and the Central forces will be deployed in 54,000 polling booths across the 28 Lok Sabha constituencies.

“The contingent includes 60,000 police personnel from the State, 40 companies of the State Reserve Police Force, 14,458 Home Guards, 1,200 civil defence personnel, along with 4,000 Home Guards from Andhra Pradesh,” he said.

In addition to the State forces, services will be sought from 104 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), which is a mix of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), the Indo-Tibet Border Police (ITBP), the Border Security Force and the Armed Police from the State of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra, he added.

He said that of the total 54,294 polling booths, 8,658 booths had been identified as hypersensitive, 14,400 as sensitive and 31,196 as normal. The hypersensitive booths will be guarded by the CAPF, while a mobile patrolling party will also be deputed in respective jurisdictions. “These mobile parties will cover 30-40 booths and will be supervised by officers of the rank of inspector and above,” he said.

Security will also be beefed up in the Naxal-affected areas to ensure peaceful polling, Reddy said, adding that the Anti-Naxal Force, CAPF and KSRP platoons have been deployed.

He pointed out that 29,925 non-bailable warrants have been executed against persons accused in various cases. He said that 86, 635 weapons have been deposited across the State as a precautionary measure.

Rs 2.21 cr seized

The police seized Rs 12.21 crore in cash being illegally transported for election malpractice and around 176 FIRs were filed for inducement by cash/ liquor under the Representation of People’s Act, Reddy said.

“There are 284 checkposts operating across the State to check the flow of cash and liquor. All this is done to ensure that the elections are held in a peaceful manner,” he said.

Reddy urged the public to report information related to election malpractices on the toll-free number 1800 4250 100.

Rowdies

Reddy said the number of rowdy-sheeters in the State had increased to around 27,000 since the police began a crackdown in August 2013.

He said that since the notification of the elections, about 14,700 rowdy-sheeters had been round up, “This is one of the largest-ever binding of anti-social elements for elections,” he said, adding that as many as 79 persons had been detained under the Goonda Act and more than a 100 Goonda Act proceedings were in the process.