Polling tomorrow amidst tight police security
58,302 polling stations, use of police of other states
Bengaluru, May 11: Director General of Police and IG Neelamani N Raju said that the police department has taken all precautionary measures and security arrangements to ensure free and fair Assembly election in the state tomorrow.
Speaking to reporters at her office here on Friday, she said that total 58,302 polling stations were set up for voting and among them, 21,464 polling stations were identified as sensitive polling stations. Each such polling station was provided a head constable and a constable and general polling station was provided a constable or home guard, she added.
Police from other states
For the first time, total 7500 police force was summoned from Goa, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra, along with home guards and civil police personnel, for the election duty. Responding to the request, Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh have also sent their forces. But since there was more force than requirement, they were sent back, the DGP said.
For the election duty, total 43,653 police personnel, 22,172 home guards, two thousand Seva Dal, and remaining 3000 from the forest staff, Lokayukta, CID and other organizations are being used for the purpose. Apart from this, 585 platoons of armed forces were also deputed and these forces were deputed as flying squads and sector squads. Apart from this, one armed personnel would be deputed for each of the sensitive polling booths, she said.
Only 117 cases were registered related to election in the state this year. As the police security was beefed up in some sensitive places like Shivamogga, Davangere, Bengaluru, Hubballi- Dharwad, no communal clashes or cases were reported. Except one murder in a fracas between two groups in an inebriated condition, at Chikkaballapur, no casualties were reported in any parts of the state, she said.
There were no reports of Naxal activities in the state. Except some information about their movement during January and February, no activities were reported. Nowhere the election was boycotted. Even then, sufficient police security has been provided in naxal-prone places, she added.
ADGP Kamal Panth was appointed as the nodal officer for election work and senior officer R Hitendra was appointed to look after the cases of expenditure and violation of code of conduct and DIG Sandeep Patil was given the responsibility of deputing armed forces and security forces. All three of them were in regular contact with Chief Election Officer, she said.
Precautionary measures
In view of the election, more than 40,000 people, having criminal background, were summoned to police stations and warned them. Based on the circumstances, the police stations would arrest such persons, if needed. Out of total 97,043 licenced weapons, 95,405 weapons were deposited in police stations after election code of conduct was enforced. But 1456 weapons were given relaxation from deposition and licences of 19 weapons were cancelled. Total 22 illegal weapons and 30 bullets were seized, he said.
“State assembly poll would be held tomorrow. Tight police security was made for polling. All measures were taken to ensure free and fair election in the state and people could vote without any fear”- DGP Neelamani N Raju
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Minor girl kidnapped and raped; main accused and two cafe owners held
Latur (PTI): A minor girl was allegedly kidnapped and raped by an 18-year-old man in Latur, leading to the arrest of the main accused and owners of two cafes where the crime occurred on December 4, police said on Saturday.
Police traced the girl within hours of registering the complaint. The accused, identified as Rihan Gulab Shaikh, was arrested based on the girl's complaint. Two others are owners of two cafes where the crime occurred, police said.
Police registered a case under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), POCSO Act, and the Prevention of Atrocities Act, an official said.
