Odisha polls: 3,000 cops to ensure free, fair voting in Twin City

Reported by Santosh Jagdev

Bhubaneswar, Apr 3:

Elaborate security arrangements have been put in place by the Commissionerate Police to ensure free and fair Lok Sabha and Odisha Assembly polls in the commissionerate area.

“Adequate security arrangements have been made for the polls. The deployment of forces will be made in such a manner so that no untoward incident takes place. For this, more than 3,000 police personnel will be deployed in the areas of Assembly constituencies during the election to ensure the safety of voters and peaceful voting,” informed Twin City Commissioner of Police (CP) Dr RP Sharma while briefing media persons about security arrangements during polls here on Thursday.

This apart, Dr Sharma said, an additional five companies of the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) would also be deployed in the city to help the police personnel. “We have identified 15 per cent highly sensitive booths in the city where tight security arrangements have been made to keep a strict vigil on anti-socials in the areas,” he added.

A total of 1004 booths would be set up in the capital city for casting votes.

The CP revealed that three flying squads have been deployed in each of the five constituencies coming under the commissionerate police jurisdiction to check violations of model code of conduct, distribution of money and liquor to the voters during electioneering. “We conduct surprise raids at the places soon after getting tip-offs from the reliable sources about the violations of poll code,” he added.

To stop illegal camps arranged by the political parties to appease voters with liquor and feast at several places around different constituencies, one section of striking force will be deployed at each police station who, along with the police team, will carry out raids to prevent such things from happening.  “No such political camps will be allowed in the constituency as it violates the poll code and invites criminal activities in the area,” he said.

Giving details of raid executed by the commissionerate, Dr Sharma said the Commissionerate Police have arrested 542 persons against whom non-bailable warrants (NBWs) were pending in the last one month. “Keeping in view the polls, we have launched a special drive to execute the pending non-bailable warrants (NBWs) against criminals and repeated offenders,” said Sharma.

950 arms licence holders of the total 1596 have already deposited their arms to the commissionerate police ahead of poll, Sharma revealed.