23,000 cops to be deployed on poll day

Around 2,375 officers, 20,982 constables, 5 additional companies of SRPF with the existing three companies, three companies of the Rapid Action Force (RAF) and 2,000 home guards will be deployed in the city on the poll day, said Mumbai police commissioner, Arup Patnaik, on Tuesday.

Around 2,375 officers, 20,982 constables, 5 additional companies of SRPF with the existing three companies, three companies of the Rapid Action Force (RAF) and 2,000 home guards will be deployed in the city on the poll day, said Mumbai police commissioner, Arup Patnaik, on Tuesday.

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The mobilisation of the police force began a week ago. “As the voting will be held on Thursday, the deployment will begin from Wednesday. We will be present in every lane and by-lane of the city,” said Patnaik. “Of the 211 sensitive polling stations comprising 883 booths, four have been declared hypersensitive. The deployment will be maximum at the hypersensitive spots.”

The Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) will be dispatched to 29 centres across the city on Wednesday and will be guarded till the counting is completed on February 17.

A total of 73 non-cognisable offences relating to the violation of model code of conduct and 17 other offences were registered till Tuesday. The police have taken bonds from 1,773 history-sheeters and over 400 have been externed. So far, 24 illegal firearms have been seized from across the city. “We have referred all these cases to the crime branch to find out whether they were obtained with an intention of being used for poll violence,” he said. The police have taken custody of around 300 licenced firearms from their owners.

The candidates will have to take prior permission to carry out victory processions following the announcement of the results, said joint commissioner of police (law and order) Rajnish Seth.