Tight security for Assembly elections

Tight security for Assembly elections
Published on

Team Herald

PANJIM: Adequate security arrangements are deployed across all the polling booths to ensure secure and peaceful voting. Goa Police claims no untoward incident or possible threat during the voting process, however, security arrangements are put in place in compliance with Election Commission’s directives to spread the message of “voting fearlessly.”

An officer said the Goa Police in collaboration with 50 continents of Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) have carried out flag marches, security checks and security-related drills in the past few days. While in North Goa, CAPF and Goa Police will man all the polling booths, in South Goa, the sensitive, hyper sensitive and vulnerable will have additional manpower consisting of CAPF personnel. 

“In North Goa, we have deployed several check points at each police station jurisdiction and 13 static surveillance points. We have also formed 38 flying squads in addition to 27 contingents of CAPF who comprise a total 2,500 personnel. Over 1,200 from the total CAPF personnel are ensuring safe polling. Goa Police is also proactively carrying out all the security measures,” the officer revealed. 

In every booth, he added, apart from Goa Police personnel and officers, CAPF are also deployed. “We have taken these steps with an intention to give out a clear message that Goa has a safe election while also increasing confidence among the voters to come out in large numbers and caste their franchise,” he said. 

Massive 100-odd criminals who could be potential danger to the voting process were made to sign a bond of good behaviour even as they remain under police surveillance. The officer informed that quite a few history-sheeters were also externed from their respective areas prior to the voting day. At the same time, freebies, alcohol and drugs have been seized which are valued at over Rs 2 crore. 

In South Goa, a total of 23 CAPF contingents are deployed of whom a major portion of personnel are deployed at critical polling booths. Special teams at police stations are also on the move to ensure law and order is maintained.  

Inspector General of Police Rajesh Kumar has urged the public to come out in large numbers to vote while Goa Police “is here to ensure free and fair elections in Goa.”

“Given the track record of Goa and its people, I am hopeful and confident we will conduct fair and impartial elections. I also urge the people to stay safe from COVID-19 while going for polls”: he said.  

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Over 2200 security personnel deployed in South Goa
MARGAO: Over 2200 security personnel including  local police, Home Guards,  central forces viz. Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Central reserve Police force (CRPF), Central industrial security force (CISF), Kerala State Armed Police, Karnataka State Reserve  Police, Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) will be deployed for smooth conduct of the Assembly polls in South Goa scheduled on February 14.  He said that polling booths classified as sensitive and supersensitive will have additional deployment of security forces. South Goa District Superintendent of Police Abhishek Dhania along with Sub-divisional police officers (SDPOs) from South Goa briefed all the State police officers, Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) officers and personnel deployed for poll duty.
Herald Goa
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