Deploy central police, don’t keep them as reserve: EC

JAIPUR: Amid concerns over security arrangements, the Election Commission has again asked chief electoral officers to use central armed police forces optimally and lay fool-proof blanket of security during the voting.

Observing the state government's tendency to keep central police as 'reserves', EC asked chief electoral officer (CEO) to deploy all central police personnel in election duty. In its orders, it maintained that actually not deploying central police personnel in election related duties defeats the very purpose of augmenting the local forces resulting in sub-optimal benefits.

Central police are made available by the ministry of home affairs to the state government depending on the sensitivity of polling station in the state. EC has also asked the CEOs to prepare a complete state deployment plan taking into account the available forces with them. Based on these plans, a quantum of forces will be deployed in different constituencies.

"State deployment plans will be based on district plans, which will be prepared by the district collector and SPs. Each district has different requirements depending on the number of sensitive polling stations in the constituency," said an official in the Election Commission. "Our plans are almost ready as the final draft is to be shared with Election Commission a week before the polling day," added the official.

For the district level plans, EC has asked all states to ensure that polling stations are covered with adequate static duty forces reinforced by necessary mobile patrolling at the level of zones and sectors. For the identified sensitive and trouble-prone booths other forces like state police and home guards should be deployed in adequate numbers.

Meanwhile, EC has asked that one central police jawan should be stationed at the entrance of the polling station so that he can keep a watch on the proceedings that are going on inside the station. They will be mandated to ensure that no unauthorized person enters the polling station and no irregularity is being committed by the polling staff. The jawan will also ensure that voters are not being bullied or threatened.

Huge security as LS polls loom

Based on the guidelines issued by EC, chief electoral officer, Ashok Jain, has ordered for full proof arrangements of security in the state. He said that to win over the confidence of electors and ensuring free and fair elections, it is necessary to maintain law and order during polls. Along with the security he asked poll officials to check all the EVMs and minimize last moment technical glitches.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/lok-sabha-elections-2014/news/Deploy-central-police-dont-keep-them-as-reserve-EC/articleshow/33467213.cms