State police bracing up for the forthcoming Assembly election slated on February 15, they are now busy identifying the ‘critical’ and ‘vulnerable’ polling stations and polling booths across the state. Besides, state police have sought 128 companies of central armed police forces (CAPF) from the Centre to ensure peaceful election, said state police spokesperson ADGP (law and order) Ram Singh Meena on Thursday.
Another senior police officer said that as per the previous election review data, 43 Vidhan Sabha areas have been identified as sensitive. All the Vidhan Sabha constituencies from Udham Singh Nagar and Haridwar districts have been identified as sensitive, he informed.
Others falling in the category are the following- Bheemtal, Haldwani and Ramnagar from Nainital district; Dwarahat, Salt, Ranikhet and Someshwar from Almora district; Dharchula, Didihat and Pithoragarh from Pithoragarh district, Chakrata, Raipur, Mussoorie, Doiwala and Rishikesh from Dehradun district; Ghansali, Devprayag, Narendra Nagar and Tehri from Tehri district; Kedarnath and Rudraprayag from Rudraprayag district and Badrinath from Chamoli district.
ADGP Meena further said that sensitivity of polling booths during election depends on various factors like crime graph, communal tensions, political turmoil and character of the candidates. The district police heads have been directed to try all means to keep things under control as far as the sensitive and ultra- sensitive polling booths are concerned, he said, adding that police must act in accordance with the records of the past elections.
Meena further said that police officers have been directed to prepare data on polling centres, deployment of police forces and demand of more police forces so that things can be sorted out methodically.
To discuss on making final report on identification of critical and vulnerable polling booths and polling centres, a video conferencing with district police chiefs will be held at PHQ on Friday and things will be cleared on the same day, he added.
He said that instruction had been earlier issued for district police chiefs that the police station officers would conduct verification drives in hotels, other commercial establishments and residences in various localities to stop undesirable elements from staying in their jurisdiction. “Besides, we would be alert at the places known as communally vulnerable,” ADGP- (law and order) said. The police officers have been directed to ensure fool-proof security at markets, bus stands, railway stations, cinemas and the like, he said.