Hundreds of checkposts brought under CCTV surveillance ahead of election
The Tamil Nadu police have brought hundreds of checkposts under CCTV surveillance in the runup to the April 19 general election. The State police will be assisted by 200 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) personnel, as part of the security arrangements in all 39 Lok Sabha constituencies.
DirectorGeneral of Police Shankar Jiwal said that elaborate security arrangements were drawn up as per the directions of the Election Commission. Besides Quick Reaction Teams and Striking Force
Vehicles, armed police personnel would be part of the Static Surveillance Teams (SSTs) and Flying Squad Teams (FSTs).
“We are fully geared up to ensure the conduct of the Lok Sabha election in a free and fair manner. A total of 1.7 lakh police personnel, including CAPF companies, are being drafted for election bandobust across the State. Deployment of manpower will be done in consultation with the Chief Electoral Officer. CCTV cameras have been installed at checkposts, including 90 along the State’s borders with Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Puducherry,” Mr. Jiwal told Hindu on Monday.
The DGP said that more than 13,000 licensed weapons were deposited by the owners in the respective police stations. The process of allowing exemptions from the exercise, such as for private agencies engaged in bank security, currency chests etc., was being examined. About 10,000 people who came to adverse notice in the recent past were bound over under various proceedings, he said.
Commissioners/Superintendents of Police were instructed to conduct checks at buildings located in remote areas and inten
The sify vehicle checks on roads leading to sensitive installations, other districts/States etc. Checks were also being conducted in trains, in coordination with the Government Railway Police and the Railway Protection Force, to check movement of cash or contraband.
Mr. Jiwal said that vulnerability mapping of polling stations where violent incidents had been reported was done three months ago. The list of critical polling stations was being reassessed before the deployment of additional armed security personnel to such premises.
“In Tamil Nadu, we do not have the issue of muscle power being used to prevent voters from exercising their franchise. The State police force has started implementing the security scheme, which includes a Standard Operating Procedure as regards VVIP security,” he said.
When asked about the steps taken to prevent smuggling of liquor, ganja and other narcotic substances from across the interState borders, Additional DirectorGeneral of Police, Enforcement Bureau, Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal, said that meetings were held with law enforcement agencies of neighbouring States as regards intensifying vigil at border checkposts and keeping a tab on habitual drug offenders.
In Chennai, Commissioner of Police Sandeep Rai Rathore said that about 15,000 police personnel, including 1,400 drawn from the CAPF, would be engaged in election security arrangements. Based on electionrelated cases registered in 2019 and 2021, 40 places were identified as sensitive, and field officers were directed to take appropriate security measures.
“While drawing the bandobust plan, this factor (places with a history of electionrelated violence) was taken into account to prevent recurrence of such issues. Apart from checks by the SSTs and FSTs, senior police officers were working with intelligence agencies to curb the movement of illicit liquor, drugs and money,” Mr. Rathore said.
A total of 1.7 lakh police personnel, including CAPF companies, are being drafted for election bandobust across the State
DGP
CEO’s review
Meanwhile, Chief Electoral Officer Satyabrata Sahoo chaired a review meeting at the Secretariat.
As of Monday evening, ₹1.77 crore had been seized from various locations during surprise checks across Tamil Nadu.