Bengaluru: Authorities have deployed over 1.5 lakh police and CRPF for the smooth conduct of Karnataka assembly election to be held on Wednesday, May 10, sources said. The high stakes assembly election will be held in 224 assembly constituencies on Wednesday while counting will be held on May 13. The Karnataka police department, which has taken precautionary measures to conduct the elections transparently and prevent any untoward incident, has deployed a total of 1.56 lakh security officials including the central force and the police of other states for security.
According to sources, a total of 84,119 personnel including 304 DySPs, 991 Inspectors, 2,610 PSIs, 5,803 ASIs, 46,421 HCs and 27,990 PC Home Guards have been deployed for election duty. About 8,500 police officers and staff and home guards have been procured from outside states for election duty to meet the shortage of officers and staff as per requirement.
Along with 650 CAPF troops, State Armed Reserve Force has also been deployed for the smooth conduct of the polls.
Surveillance teams and check-posts: A total of 58,282 polling stations have been set up for the Karnataka assembly election of which 11,617 polling stations have been designated as sensitive polling stations. Additional CAPF forces along with police personnel have been deployed at sensitive polling stations to maintain law and order.
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A total of 2,930 mobile sectors are in operation and 20 booths are allotted for each sector. Constant patrolling is carried out under the supervision of PSI or ASI grade officers and staff. There are 149 mobile surveillance teams for monitoring the sectors and one police inspector grade officer has been appointed in charge of the mobile surveillance teams.
More than 200 vigilance squads have also been appointed to prevent violations of election code of conduct and malpractices. Besides, than 700 check posts have been opened at inter-state and inter-district borders including sensitive areas.
115 cases registered, 157 crore rupees seized: In the run-up to the Karnataka assembly election, a total of 5500 non-bailable warrants have been executed since last 6 months. In 115 cases of violation of security measures, Rs 157 crores have been confiscated from the accused.
714 Persons Deported: A total of 714 persons with criminal background have been deported to ensure peaceful polls without disrupting law and order in the elections. A case has been registered against 68 accused under the Goonda Act. More than 50 coordination meetings have been held with the officers of the inter-state border districts under the leadership of various levels of officers such as IGP, SP, DC and other officers in order to maintain peace and harmony in the border areas of the neighboring states.
It has been decided to take appropriate legal action at the border check posts to closely monitor the movement of unauthorized cash, liquor, freebies and other items from the neighboring states during the elections. In this regard, neighbouring states have also set up check posts along their borders including Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra and Goa.
650 CAPF troops deployed: A total of 650 CAPF troops have been deployed for election duty including101 CRPF, 108 BSF, 75 CISF, 70 ITBP, 75 SSB, 35 RPF and 186 SP troops to maintain law and order in sensitive assembly constituencies.
