KADAPA: The Central para-military forces including BSF, CRPF and CISF personnel would be deployed in sensitive areas in Kadapa district on April 23, the polling day, Kadapa Superintendent of Police D.S. Chauhan said on Friday.
Police officials of Superintendent of Police or additional Superintendent of Police rank would be deputed to Pulivendula, Jammalamadugu and Rayachoti Assembly segments to ensure smooth poll, the Superintendent of Police said during ‘Meet the Press’ programme in Kadapa Press Club.
All necessary measures would be taken to curb factionalists, poll offenders and anti-social elements and police would cane, use teargas and open fire, if necessary, to foil any attempts to vitiate the polls, he added.
Special striking forces, striking forces and mobile police parties were equipped with VHF sets, video cameras and sophisticated firearms, to avert trouble from any factional groups, he said. The police machinery was acting impartially and striving hard to ensure free and fair polls, Mr. Chauhan stated. The district police machinery took up a drive three months ago to unearth illegal firearms, lethal weapons and country-made bombs.
“Nakabandi”
Police forces had conducted ‘nakabandi’ in faction-prone villages thrice and seized 21 firearms, 30 hunting sickles, 486 gelatin sticks, 11,000 detonators, 23 bags of ammonium nitrate and crackers worth Rs. 24 lakhs. Poll offenders, bomb-makers and rowdy-sheeters were given three rounds of counselling in Jammalamadugu, Puliendula, parts of Proddatur, Mydukur, Badve and Rayachoti segments, he said.
Shadow parties were trailing eight contestants in Kadapa district in the wake of some incidents in different segments, Mr. Chauhan said. Out of 1,263 licensed firearms, 1,115 firearms were recovered and the rest used by bank security guards etc. were permitted. Cash of Rs. 8 lakhs and liquor worth Rs. 40 lakhs seized and licenses of four authorised liquor shops were cancelled.
Some 101 cases of code violations were registered and 163 accused persons were arrested and 40 vehicles, which moved in campaigns without permission, were seized. Police initiated action in incidents within 48 hours, though they were in tremendous work pressure. Advising political parties not to level charges and demoralise the officials, he said they could complain to election authorities, poll observers or move courts on erring policemen.
(Courtesy: The Hindu)
