36,351 Police Personnel Deployed For Peaceful Local Body Polls
Tirupati district reported the highest number of election-related cases at 61: Reports
VIJAYAWADA: The Andhra Pradesh police have deployed 36,351 personnel at 4,372 locations across the state as part of elaborate security arrangements for the urban local body elections. The police have also registered 261 election-related cases and arrested 107 persons between October 15 and 29, as part of measures to ensure free, fair and peaceful polling.
Tirupati district reported the highest number of election-related cases at 61, followed by YSR Kadapa with 36, Annamayya 31, Anantapur 26 and Markapuram 22. Notices under Section 35(3) of the BNSS were issued to 733 persons in connection with the cases.
Annamayya district accounted for the highest number of arrests at 51, followed by Tirupati (27), YSR Kadapa (16), Prakasam (8) and Kurnool (5). Anantapur topped the list of persons served notices under Section 35(3), with 269, followed by Annamayya (118), YSR Kadapa (75), Sri Sathya Sai (71) and Palnadu (50).
As part of preventive measures, the police-initiated action against 19,993 persons under Sections 126 and 129 of the BNSS and bound over 1,05,767 persons to prevent election-related offences and disturbances to public peace. They also executed 2,726 pending non-bailable warrants during the special enforcement drive.
Statewide inspections resulted in the seizure of ₹4.91 lakh in cash, 4,463.345 litres of liquor worth ₹11.99 lakh, 114.1 litres of illicitly distilled liquor valued at ₹39,000, 495.987 kg of ganja worth ₹2.94 crore and firecrackers valued at ₹1.49 lakh.
The police have put in place special security arrangements at polling stations, polling material distribution centres, strong rooms housing ballot boxes and other sensitive locations. A dedicated communication and coordination mechanism has been established for election security teams, while senior officers are monitoring the situation round the clock through the Command-and-Control Centre at Police Headquarters.
DGP Harish Gupta said all political parties, candidates and members of the public were equal before the law. “Attempts to influence voters through intimidation, attacks, illegal weapons, inducements or other unlawful activities would invite stringent action, irrespective of the position or influence of those involved”.
