Over 37,000 security personnel have been deployed in the final phase of Lok Sabha elections in Jharkhand where three constituencies – Dumka, Rajmahal and Godda – are voting on May 19, officials said.
Ashish Batra, IG (Operations) said on Saturday that 219 companies of security forces, comprising 153 companies of central police forces and 66 companies of state reserve battalions along with 4,700 jawans of home guard, 1,400 women police officials and 5,700 state police officers would be deployed to provide security cover during polls.
He said that air ambulance was provided for emergency services, while monitoring in some sensitive pockets would be conducted by helicopters. Helicopter facilities would be provided at 7 polling centres, said Batra. He added that eight polling booths were relocated because of security reasons.
Lok Sabha Elections 2019 Phase 7 Voting: Follow live updates here
According to officials 1,744 polling booths are categorised as ‘very sensitive’, while 2,466 booths are in the category of ‘sensitive’. As many as 156 booths in interior pockets are in the category of ‘difficult’.
The tribal heartland, Santhal Pargana region, saw death of eight polling officials, including five police personnel in an explosion triggered by Maoists in April 2014 elections in Dumka. This had prompted intensified anti-Maoist operations by security forces since the beginning of 2019.
{{/usCountry}}The tribal heartland, Santhal Pargana region, saw death of eight polling officials, including five police personnel in an explosion triggered by Maoists in April 2014 elections in Dumka. This had prompted intensified anti-Maoist operations by security forces since the beginning of 2019.
{{/usCountry}}Also Read | In last phase of polls, big BJP push to breach JMM fort Santhal Parganas
By March 2019, security forces had seized a total of 110 kg of explosive material Pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) and 90 kg of IED at Dumka.
On January 5, security forces gunned down zonal commander-rank Maoist cadre Tala Da alias Shahdev Rai, who was wanted in several cases of murder and loot, and carried a reward of Rs 10 lakh. Another top-Maoist, Mahashay Baski alias Mahashay Soren, involved in the 2014 blast, had surrendered before the district police on January 23.
Ahead of elections, forces in the district were given special training modules to detect IED’s and landmines. The police headquarters in the capital had also issued directions to the zonal authorities to establish a communication grid with the neighbouring state of West Bengal to facilitate synchronisation of operations and exchange of information.
Raj Kumar Lakra, DIG, Santhal Pargana range, said that two dozen inter-state coordination meetings were conducted with officials concerned in West Bengal. He said that many pockets in the bordering region was sealed and barricaded to prevent Maoist activities. Election commission’s directives regarding security were being completely adhered to, he said.
ML Meena, additional director general (operations), said that forces were on a high alert, and comprehensive security measures were undertaken to ensure peaceful elections.