With an aim to ensure free and fair Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG) elections on Sunday, the city police have decided to give special attention to the 12 most sensitive booths where untoward incidents may take place due to political rivalry.
According to a senior police official, the sensitive wards include wards 21 and 19 from where violent activities were reported recently. "The city police force is ready to deal with any situation. We will take strict action against the troublemakers and those who will try to disturb the poll process," said the official.
The election campaigns witnessed a bloody clash on Monday when supporters of two candidates in ward No. 19 clashed in the Heera Nagar area. In another incident, Binder Gujjar, a candidate from ward number 21, was shot at on April 28 by unknown assailants in the old city.
"There will be tight security arrangements in the MCG area and the polling booths will be manned by adequate number of police personnel. An officer not below the rank of assistant commissioner of police (ACP) will be deployed for every six wards. He would be assisted by at least 12 police officials. Besides this, SHOs have been instructed to supervise security in their area. The police control room (PCR) will also keep on roaming in the area allocated to it," said SS Deswal, police commissioner, Gurgaon. "There will be around 30 barricades at various locations from Saturday midnight where checking of vehicles will be conducted.
“As many as 110 senior police officials, 279 head constables, 1,610 constables and 459 home guards will be deployed at various polling booths. Out of a total of 459 booths in 35 wards of the MCG, 78 booths have been declared hyper-sensitive and 129 sensitive. Three constables will be deployed at each hyper-sensitive booth while one head constable and two constables will be manning each of the sensitive booths," said Deswal.
{{/usCountry}}“As many as 110 senior police officials, 279 head constables, 1,610 constables and 459 home guards will be deployed at various polling booths. Out of a total of 459 booths in 35 wards of the MCG, 78 booths have been declared hyper-sensitive and 129 sensitive. Three constables will be deployed at each hyper-sensitive booth while one head constable and two constables will be manning each of the sensitive booths," said Deswal.
{{/usCountry}}The city police have got around 12 companies of India Reserve Battalion (IRB) and Haryana Armed Police (HAP). Around 3,000 police personnel, along with 500 home guards, will be deployed on the election day.
‘Dry’ weekend
In a decision that may come as a weekend spoiler for many, the Gurgaon administration has decided to announce three dry days from May 14 to 16 in the city.
The order has been issued to ensure security and keep a check on nefarious activities during the first ever municipal elections to be held this Sunday.
The decision will also affect the business of 300 liquor vends and 180 bars of the city. According to the order issued by district magistrate PC Meena, “No liquor shops, hotels, restaurants, clubs and other establishments selling or serving liquor shall be permitted to sell or serve liquor to any person on the aforesaid dates.”
Even joints which have special permits will have to follow the orders.
With everything in place for the big day, residents hope they will be able to peacefully vote on Sunday. Candidates, too, have kept their fingers crossed. Now the time has come to see how much they have achieved in their door-to-door campaigning, which they did with enthusiasm.