Thiruvananthapuram: The city police along with Tamil Nadu police and central forces will strengthen the security in various parts of the city and suburbs, especially election centres and sensitive localities, to ensure smooth polling on Tuesday.
City Police Commissioner Kori Sanjay Gurudin said in a statement that the security will be provided under one deputy police commissioner, two SPs, 24 DySPs, 35 circle inspectors, 60 SIs, 10 women SIs, 1400 civil police officers, 120 women civil police officers and 600 special police officers. One company each of Tamil Nadu police and CISF will be deployed. The police have identified 77 sensitive booths in the city. There will be CCTV surveillance, webcast facilities and monitoring by micro observers, said Mr Gurudin.
The city police has also ensured 120 patrolling teams at voting centres and adjacent areas. The central paramilitary forces and police will conduct route marches. Shadow and mufti police will be deployed in violence-prone areas and other important places.
The police will also keep a track on the movement of those with criminal records and anti social elements. Trouble-makers will be taken into custody.
On the final day of public campaigning on Sunday, elaborate security arrangements, including camera monitoring, will be made. There will be restrictions on using mobile phones and the entry of private vehicles within 100 metres of the polling stations, he said.
Meanwhile, police and excise have stepped up surveillance in areas bordering Tamil Nadu . Squads are checking vehicles coming from Tamil Nadu. There have been complaints about liquor being smuggled in from various points.
The possibility of liquor smuggling is expected to go up because of declaration of dry days in Kerala 48 hours before the polling. Since bikes and scooters are also being used to bring in liquor from neighboring outlets, the police and excise teams have been directed to check two wheelers.
