Anantapur:Police have stepped up preparations for the local body elections by concentrating its attention on faction-hit and hyper-sensitive parts of Rayalaseema region and ensuring inter-departmental coordination and security at polling stations so as to ensure a peaceful and transparent polling.

The local body polls cover municipalities, zilla parishad and MPPs. The SPs have begun identifying the faction-oriented villages and urban areas that have rowdy elements, to ensure a closer watch and vigil to ensure peace. A majority of rural and urban areas like Tadipathri, Pulivendula, Proddatur, Kadapa , Dharmavaram and mandals have a history of poll-related violence.

Cops are identifying the hyper-sensitive areas as part of their preparations to curb violence.

Anantapur SP Jagadish reviewed election preparedness with urban and rural circle officials on Wednesday and stressed the need for police, revenue and municipal departments to work in close coordination to ensure peaceful campaign and polling. He also inspected the AR wing and checked the emergency preparedness like use of Vajra vehicles.

Jagadish directed officials to share information regularly and coordinate their efforts to prevent incidents. He said the police would initiate preventive measures, including binding over individuals that are likely to disturb public order and those with a history of rowdyism.

The SP also inspected the security arrangements at the EVM strong rooms at the Model Junior College in Rayadurg, including the CCTV surveillance system.

Kadapa SP Shelke Vishwanath during a review of the poll preparedness directed the police stations to create awareness among the villages about the need to maintain peace and uphold democratic values during the elections.

Satya Sai SP Sathish Kumar told Deccan Chronicle that preparations were on to maintain law and order mainly at hypersensitive urban areas and villages in view of the local body polls.

Tags: