E-Paper
UP polls: Additional security deployment for counting day, say top officials
Amidst controversy and allegations on the issue of security of electronic voting machines (EVMs), the Uttar Pradesh police and administrative authorities have ordered additional deployment of security forces for ensuring law and order during counting on Thursday
Amidst controversy and allegations on the issue of security of electronic voting machines (EVMs), the Uttar Pradesh police and administrative authorities have ordered additional deployment of security forces for ensuring law and order during counting on Thursday.
Additional chief secretary (ACS), home, Awanish Awasthi and UP police additional director general (ADG), law and order, Prashant Kumar said heavy police arrangements have been made to ensure security of EVMs and for ensuring peaceful counting of votes.
Addressing a press conference at the UP police headquarters in Lucknow, the officials said additional security deployment, over and above the previous deployment, has been made.
The ADG said as per the directives of the election commission, reserve police force has been provided at sensitive counting centres and localities to avert any untoward incident.
He said the videography at sensitive spots will be conducted if required. “The security of EVMs has been done properly,” he emphasized.
Kumar said as many as 245 companies of central paramilitary forces (CPMF) have been deployed for counting and maintain law and order situation at the counting spots. He said as many 69 companies of provincial armed constabulary and over 70,000 civil police personnel have been deployed to avert any law-and-order trouble. Earlier, around 61 companies of PAC were deployed for the law and order. Besides, the deployment of civil police personnel has also increased.
He stated as many as 36 companies of CPMF has been deployed in EVM security while the remaining companies are deployed for counting and to maintain law and order. He said the counting of votes will be done on Thursday in all districts with tight security arrangements at the counting centres.
