MCD Election: In order to ensure a smooth election on Sunday, officials announced on Sunday that over 40,000 police officers, 20,000 home guards, and 108 companies of paramilitary and state armed police forces will be deployed. According to the police, over 60 drones will also be employed to maintain peace and order in vulnerable regions.
The police will focus on increasing visibility, reducing the possibility of racial tensions, and stopping candidates from obtaining votes through unethical means during the 250-ward civic elections. To ensure the smooth execution of security arrangements, a general briefing and drills have been held for the police, paramilitary, battalion force, and house guards.
To strengthen relations between both the people and the police, assistant police commissioners and inspectors met with members of local peace groups. They were made aware of the importance of serving as the police’s “eyes and ears” and reporting suspicious activity to 1090.
According to North Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Sagar Singh Kalsi, the personnel has been educated on the importance of acting impartially, being on the lookout for criminal activity, and carrying out their duties following the Model Code of Conduct.
“Approximately 40,000 Delhi Police personnel, 20,000 home guards from Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, along with 108 coys (companies) of Central Armed Police Forces and State Armed Police have been deployed for duties,” said Anand Mishra, DCP.
Sagar Preet Hooda, Zone II’s Special Commissioner of Police (Law and Order), stated that a survey of all the sensitive polling places and booths had been completed.
“We have a strong deployment of force in the sensitive poll booths. Area-wise specific plans have also been prepared,” Hooda told PTI.
“For election, we have got 108 coys (companies) of central and state armed police forces,” he said.
60 drones to maintain peace
Each district, which got four to five unmanned aerial vehicles each, will utilize sixty drones to maintain peace and order in its sensitive areas, the officer said. Police have been concentrating on the MCD poll for the last six to eight weeks, according to Dependra Pathak, special commissioner of law and order for Zone I.
Frequent law enforcement, being vigilant, and acquiring local intelligence are priorities, according to Pathak. The officer stated that police were also analyzing the type of candidates and the demographic makeup of the area. “We are collating the information and analyzing and strategizing the area-wise data,” the officer said.
He explained that some locations become more vulnerable if there are more slum clusters there. Police are also monitoring the strongrooms that will house the electronic voting machines (EVMs).
Homeguard, paramilitary forces, and flying squads will all be deployed in line with the plan, according to Pathak. Senior district-level officers have been told to stay in the office at night, and police inspectors have been told to respond to any calls about gang fights, altercations, or other problems that could be of a community nature.
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“Visibility and immediate intervention are required to prevent any situation from going out of hand,” he said, addressing apprehensions over breaches of the peace. Checking of vehicles has gone up and individuals are also being searched to ascertain if any illegal weapon is being carried, he said.
“We have a very detailed police arrangement. Thousands of our personnel, including outside forces, will be deployed for the election process,” he said. Five-six companies of paramilitary forces will be deployed in each district to protect the strongrooms. There will be CCTV cameras and a 24/7 police presence to check the comings and goings. Stressing that the role of the police did not end with the elections, Pathak said it was also important to maintain security post counting and celebratory functions.
“To have seamless coordination with the Election Commission and civic agencies involved in the conduct of elections, we are here with a focused role of maintaining law and order and providing a very safe and secure environment… If anything is going to disturb this, then professional police and legal action will be taken,” said Pathan.
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