Nagpur News: Gearing up to mark the voting day in Nagpur, the last minute preparations for stabilizing intact security measures are enforced around various polling booths and sensitive zones in the city. As the voting will begin from 7 am on April 10, the city Commissioner of Police KK Pathak has an uphill task ahead of maintaining a constant vigil through his men in khaki. This apart, troops of paramilitary forces, railway police and trained men from police training school would be deployed to ensure Nagpur goes to poll in free and fair manner.
In a press brief on Wednesday, Pathak informed that all the necessary arrangement have been put in place. Detailing on the security lot roped in for the voting day, Pathak informed that two companies of CRPF, two companies of SRPF, 7000 police staff which comprises 80 % total police force in the city, railway police force from outstation, 1200 home guards, two units of Quick Response Team (QRT) and Riot Control Squad would be engaged in maintaining the peace and fair practices at all the polling booths.
Besides, mobile patrolling will also be undertaken by the city police. Intensive checking and surveillance at fixed points (marked on busy areas) will be carried out. An independent Investigation Squad has also been formed to investigate crime during the polls.
Every DCP will have a team with PIs, PSI, and Constables etc to carryout patrolling and surveillance within their jurisdictions, he added. Commissioner of Police added that in Nagpur city there are 2136 polling pooths in 673 buildings. Based on the Election Commissioner’s guidelines, the city police have deployed their staff. He claimed that there are 91 Critical Booths.
Pathak claimed that they have policemen deployed in plain-cloths to observe if candidates are wooing voters with liquor, money or other materials, especially in slum areas in the city.
Preventive action has also been taken under various sections of CRPC. The CP informed that 7 pistols, mousers, revolvers etc have been seized during various search operations. They have also seized liquor. Around 4 people who were externed, but were found within city limits were sent out under Maharashtra Prevention of Dangerous Activities Act (MPDA Act). He said that they have 95 % non-bailable arrest warrants.
He added that policemen would be seen in large numbers throughout the city. We have made due compliance of the directives of the Election Commissioner.
The CP said that Nagpur has around 28 lakh voters.
While answering to some questions of the media he said that 6 pockets are extremely sensitive and they have deployed adequate staff to monitor the poll proceedings. He said that every slum area is under their surveillance and any wrong move by anyone would immediately invite action by the police.
Pathak has appealed to the citizens of Nagpur to cooperate with the police in ensuring smooth and peaceful polling in the city.
