PANJIM/MARGAO: With a day to go before Goa votes for a new Legislative Assembly on Saturday, the law enforcing agencies have fanned out across the State ensuring watertight security. There are 90 para military companies comprising of around 8000 personnel in addition to 3300-odd Goa Police force members deployed on security duty.
“Ninety companies of central para military force besides around 3300 Goa police personnel and home guards have been deployed at various locations to maintain law and order,” Additional Chief Electoral Officer Narayan Navti told Herald as canvassing for the polls concluded on Thursday.
Meanwhile, 1190 policemen, 26 companies of CPMF with 80 to 100 men in each company and an additional 200 home guards have been deployed all over South Goa. The Collector has also ordered the closure of mining in the Dharbandora, Collem, Quepem areas and the order of ban on sale of liquor is also in place.
The South Goa District Election officer Swapnil Naik on Thursday said the Commission has now ordered pre-certification of Media Monitoring committees for any advertisements on any news papers till day of poll.
All the polling booths, including 53 critical polling stations and seven vulnerable areas in St Cruz and Calangute constituencies in the north district, and another few in the south are being manned by armed personnel.
In the latest development, the North District has added entire Porvorim constituency as a sensitive area in the wake of a large number of complaints of law and order problems. “Porvorim has been included in the sensitive area category as we received maximum complaints from this constituency,” North Collector Nila Mohanan said at a press briefing.
Besides keeping a close watch on any violations of the model code of conduct, the flying squads and police teams are on their toes even as police security at sensitive and vulnerable areas has been strengthened.
In the north district, 24 CRPF companies, 28 Quick Response Teams and over 1,500 police personnel, IRB personnel and home guards are on duty. North Goa SP Kartik Kashyap confirmed huge deployment and intense patrolling at sensitive and vulnerable locations including slum areas and places with huge migrant population. “Reserve Police will be deployed as and when required,” he added.
As a preventive measure, the North police have sent notices to 2010 persons with criminal records under section 107 of the CrPC and another 79 history sheeters and individuals with bad characters under section 110 CrPC. “Seven externment proceedings of criminals are underway,” the officer added.
