Elaborate security arrangements have been made as the district had received sufficient security personnel for conducting the polls peacefully on Monday. Giving the details, while talking to the reporters here on Sunday evening, district election officer / district magistrate Pranjal Yadav said that as many as 47 companies of para-military forces would be deployed here.
He said that as per the demands, para-military forces would be deployed on all the polling booths in Varanasi parliamentary forces. There are 525 personnel in each company so we have sufficient para-military personnel to ensure peaceful polling. He said that no person would be allowed to display any political article within a radius of 100 metre of the polling booth. Close circuit cameras have been installed at 1250 booths to keep a close watch on the activities at the polling booths. Where the same could not be installed, videography of the entire polling process would be made.
In reply to a query about the publicity articles seized from BJP office, he said that the same would be returned to the party. The administration had talked to the Election Commission in this direction. As the materials were kept and were not being distributed the same would be returned. Yadav said that the district administration is determined to ensure free and fair elections and strict action would be taken against those who try to create obstructions in peaceful polling process. He said that the political parties can keep one table and one chair outside the 200 metres circle of the booth and they can only display a small flag.
They can keep two chairs and two tables where there are more than two booths at the polling centres. Security forces took out a flag march from BHU Gate on the eve of polling in the city here on Sunday to bring confidence among the voters to cast their votes fearlessly. The procession passed through various areas and senior police officers including SP(City) Rahul Raj and others were leading the same.
Several platoons of Rapid Action Force (RAF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and PAC apart from police personnel were taking part in the march. Despite scorching heat the cops passed through different areas under lanka police stations. It may be mentioned that for the last many days, such flag marches were taken out by the police from different police stations.
Earlier, after end of the campaigning at 6 pm on Saturday, the police and security personnel started checking various hotels, lodges, dharmshala and guest houses to ensure that all the outsiders had left the city. The district administration said that if the outsiders were found staying in the city they would be arrested.
Meanwhile District Election Officer Pranjal Yadav said that for polling all the district borders would be sealed and no outside vehicles would be allowed to enter the district between 7 am and 6 pm on Monday as the administration is determined to ensure free and fair election and maintain peace in the district. For ensure peace, he said that 22 zonal and 170 sector magistrates have been appointed and no persons without having valid voter cards would be allowed to enter within 200 metres circle of the polling booths.
He said that the distribution of liquor, sarees, tiffin boxes and any other articles among the voters by the candidates and their supporters is an offence and zonal/ sector magistrates would keep watch on all such activities. The persons involved in such activities would be sent to the jail under section 171B and other sections of IPC.
Earlier in the day, on the complaint lodged by the AAP, the police raided the office of the BJP in Sigra and found some clothes to be used for electioneering.The electoral officers were examining whether the storage of clothes at party office is legal or not when the last news came in.The BJP workers protested the raid blaming the electoral officers for acting being biased as the party leaders had demanded the transfer of returning officer.
According to information, the AAP leaders lodged complaint with election office that some objectionable material such as liquor and money in huge quantity were kept at the office of BJP in Sigra. Acting on the complaint, the electoral officers along with police personnel in large number raided the office. This led to utter chaos at BJP office for a while and when the officers told about the reason behind the raid the party workers present on the occasion lodged strong protest against the raid. During the raid the police did not find liquor or money but it found readymade clothes kept to be distributed among party workers.
Meanwhile, rumor spread out that the liquor and money in huge quantity were recovered from the office of BJP. But the Circle Officer of Sigra categorically denied recovery of these things and informed that the electoral officers were examining whether the storage of clothes at party office was legal or not when the electioneering has already ended. When the information about raid reached to BJP workers they reached the office and protested the raid. They also blamed that the raid was conducted as revenge because the party leaders had demanded the transfer of returning officer.
Till the news last came in the electoral officers were examining the fact. Among those present in the protest were Devanand Singh and Sujit Singh ‘Tika’.