Security beefed up for repolling on Friday

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar/Cuttack, Apr 24:

Security was beefed up in nine booths in Odisha where repolling would be held tomorrow.

As per the directive of the Election Commission, there will be repolling in six booths of the Niali Assembly constituency in Cuttack district, one each at Telkoi and Ghasipura blocks in Keonjhar district and the other at Aul in Kendrapara district where there were multiple complaints of rigging during the second phase polls on April 17.

Repolling in these booths would begin at 7 AM and end at 5 PM, official sources said.

Reports from Cuttack said the police conducted flag march in and around six booths at Niali this afternoon.

Talking to the media, SP Cuttack (Rural) Gurudas Kundu said elaborate security arrangements have been made at Niali to ensure incident-free polling.

“A total of 40 platoons of police have been deployed in these booths while one Additional SP, six DSPs, six Inspectors and 12 ASIs will monitor the polling. One DSP, one Inspector and two ASIs would remain in charge of each booth.  Besides, there would be 12 mobile patrolling units that would cover each booth at regular intervals during the polling.

To ward off any untoward incident during the polling, one section of striking force will be kept in readiness”, he informed.

To ensure transparency in polling there would be webcasting in each booth in the presence of a micro-observer.

Besides, the provision for videography has also been made outside these polling booths to record the proceedings.

Similar security measures have also been taken in the remaining three booths at Telkoi, Ghasipura and Aul, reports said.