A joint briefing was conducted at the Cooperative College campus on Saturday by District Election Officer (DEO)  Ananya Mittal and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP)  Kishore Kaushal to provide crucial guidelines regarding counting day, scheduled for November 23, 2024. The DEO emphasized that entry into the campus without a valid pass is strictly prohibited. This applies to candidates, election agents, counting agents, election officials, press representatives, and personnel involved in essential services. 

In addition to the pass, counting agents must present Form 18 to gain access to the counting hall. The officials also outlined traffic and parking arrangements to ensure smooth operations on counting day. 

The DEO clarified that vehicles belonging to candidates, election agents, counting agents, observers, district officials, supervisor assistants, and press representatives will be allowed to park inside the college campus. However, political workers will need to park their vehicles outside Sacred Heart Convent School. Beyond the Russi Modi Centre of Excellence, no vehicles belonging to workers will be permitted. Workers will need to proceed on foot up to the District Mining Office and will not be allowed inside the campus premises. 

SSP  Kaushal outlined a robust three-tier security system for the Cooperative College campus. The first layer will be manned by district police forces, the second by Jharkhand Armed Police (JAP) jawans, and the third by paramilitary forces. 

Electronic gadgets, including mobile phones, will be prohibited inside the campus. However, certain district officials will be granted access with phones as per Election Commission guidelines. Press representatives will be allowed to carry cameras and phones, but only within the media cell located in the campus library. 

The DEO and SSP reiterated that no exceptions would be made regarding entry protocols to maintain fairness and order. All stakeholders, including political representatives, media personnel, and election staff, must strictly adhere to the guidelines to avoid disruptions during the counting process. 

The briefing was attended by senior officials, including Project Director ITDA  Deepak Chaudhary, ADM Law and Order  Aniket Sachan, SDM Dhalbhum Mrs. Shatabdi Majumdar, Rural SP  Rishabh Garg, City SP  Kumar Shivashish, and Deputy Municipal Commissioner JNAC  Krishna Kumar, among others.  

These measures aim to ensure a transparent and secure counting process, contributing to the smooth conclusion of the election exercise.