Sub-inspectors and circle inspectors have started inspecting all the 255 polling stations in the Kovur Assembly segment to plan safety measures during the ensuing by-election on March 18.

District superintendent of police B.V. Ramana Kumar said that they had established seven border check posts, and seven more on the entry points to Kovur Assembly segment to prevent the flow of money, weapons and liquor into the Kovur segment. The check posts started functioning from Tuesday.

Border check posts have been set up at Sullurpeta, Rapur, Venkatagiri, Pellakur, Kavali, Marripadu and Duttalur and check posts bordering the Kovur segment have been set up at Annareddy-palem, Venkateswara-puram, Sunnapubatti, Thalamanchi, NH 5 Penna Bridge, Kisan Nagar and TP Gudur, Mr Ramana Kumar said, when contacted.

According to him, the check posts will run in three shifts and will be manned by one sub-inspector, two police constables (civil), two police constables (Armed Reserve), one head constable and two home guards.

Officials manning the check posts have been clearly instructed to check all vehicles including government ones, entering the district and Kovur Assembly constituency.

They should maintain a general diary and note down the number of vehicles and type of vehicles checked.

The SP said that he had requested the Guntur range IG to provide additional force to man the check posts since they need at least 48 sub-inspectors as of now, and the requirement may increase if a VIP visits the segment for campaigning.

He said that they will also take the assistance of the AP Special Police battalion located in Venkatagiri for security arrangements in the by-election.