AP SEC Steps Up Security For November 1 Polls

Vijayawada: The Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission (SEC) has strengthened security arrangements for the urban local body elections scheduled for November 1 to ensure free, fair and peaceful polling across the State.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the SEC said 36,351 police personnel had been deployed for election duty.

Of them, 32,276 were from the AP Police, 2,730 from the AP Special Police and 1,345 from other wings of the police department.

The personnel include 34 SPs, 52 additional SPs, 152 DSPs, 662 CIs/RIs, 1,564 SIs/RSIs, 2,111 ASIs/ARSIs, 4,505 civil head constables/ARHCs, 17,017 civil police constables/ARPCs and 6,179 home guards.

As part of the security arrangements, 1,543 route mobile teams with 3,103 personnel, 481 striking force teams with 1,479 personnel and 347 special striking force teams with 1,394 personnel have been deployed.

Another 405 teams have been assigned flying squad duties and enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct.

Checkposts and static surveillance teams comprise 414 units, while road-opening parties have also been deployed.

The arrangements include 4,655 personnel to guard 111 strong rooms where ballot boxes will be kept, 525 personnel at distribution centres and 500 personnel from the communications wing.

Another 5,405 personnel have been assigned other duties, including shadow parties, reserve parties and law-and-order pickets.

The SEC has made elaborate security arrangements at all 4,372 polling stations.

Of these, 671 have been identified as very sensitive, with 3,355 personnel deployed there, while 1,233 sensitive polling stations have been assigned 4,949 personnel.

Drones, CCTV cameras and videographers will be used to monitor the election process continuously and prevent untoward incidents.

The SEC warned that strict action would be taken in accordance with the rules against violations of the Model Code of Conduct, breaches of law and order and other unlawful activities during polling.

It said any attempt to obstruct the conduct of elections would not be tolerated.

The Commission appealed to voters to exercise their franchise without fear or favour.

It also urged the public, political parties and candidates to cooperate with election authorities to ensure peaceful and transparent polling.

The SEC said all necessary security arrangements had been made to enable every eligible voter to exercise their franchise freely.