Police keep peace on track

WITH THE heavy deployment of police personnel acting as a deterrent, the district administration managed to conduct a violence-free Nagar Panchayat poll on city outskirts today. Taking a lesson from the rigging and violence reported during the local body election in the city two days back, SSP GK Goswami had pressed into service the maximum possible force for the purpose.

WITH THE heavy deployment of police personnel acting as a deterrent, the district administration managed to conduct a violence-free Nagar Panchayat poll on city outskirts today. Taking a lesson from the rigging and violence reported during the local body election in the city two days back, SSP GK Goswami had pressed into service the maximum possible force for the purpose.

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For the first time, door-framed metal detectors (DFMDs) were placed at the entrance of every booth in rural areas. This was just one of the many steps the police had taken to ensure a violence free poll. Cavalcade of senior administration and police officials and Vajra vehicles moving around the polling centres too helped in keeping the troublemakers away.

Five sub-inspectors (S-Is), along with 10-15 constables, were deputed at each booth. Constables, equipped with binoculars, were positioned on rooftops to keep a close watch on activities around pooling booths and the camps of candidates. Moreover, two jeeps of armed policemen made regular trips to four polling booths in all seven areas. None of the supporters or candidates was allowed to stay within 100 metres of a polling booth. An 11-year-old boy, Habib was caught trying to enter a booth in the Itaunja area for bogus voting.

Speaking to Hindustan Times, Goswami said the control room did not receive a single complaint of violence.