With just a day left for the election counting exercise, the district administration seems all set for the D-day. Tight security arrangement has been ensured at the campus of Jamshedpur Cooperative College — the strongroom of EVMs for Jamshedpur parliamentary constituency — for counting day on May 16. The counting will begin at 8 am and will continue for 23 rounds.
The first level of security near entrance of the college campus would be under district police while the second round of security would be near the library of the college under personnel of Jharkhand Armed Police (JAP) and the last tier of security would be manned by CRPF personnel near the strongroom.
East Singhbhum deputy commissioner-cum returning officer for Jamshedpur parliamentary constituency, Amitabh Kaushal said that entire Jamshedpur Cooperative College administration building is under electronic surveillance of 44 CCTVs.
“No person other than candidates, their election/ counting agents, public servants on election duty or persons authorised by Election Commission would be permitted to enter counting centres. Mobiles and electrical communication gadgets have been banned at the college campus,” said Kaushal.
Counting will be done simultaneously for each of the six assembly segments – Baharagora, Ghatshila, Potka, Jugsalai, Jamshedpur East and Jamshedpur West – falling under Jamshedpur lok Sabha seat.
Counting will be done on 14 tables in each of the assembly segments and each counting table will have a counting supervisor and counting micro-observer. Candidates, counting agents of different political parties and administration staff will not be allowed to take their vehicles to the Jamshedpur Cooperative College campus.
The administration has trained supporting staff, observers and micro-observers to ensure proper exercise, scheduled on May 16. According to information, returning officer cum deputy commissioner is holding regular meetings with the senior officials to ensure proper implementation of routine works. Proper security arrangements would be made at the strong room. He has instructed police officials to arrest persons violating rules near counting centres.
The party agents have been instructed to get into the counting centre before 7.30 a.m. and their movements would be restricted. The agents for different Assembly segments in the lok Sabha constituency would be issued with badges to prevent them from moving from one counting hall to another.
About the arrangements for counting and security measures taken by the authorities, the returning officer said that tight security was in place at the counting centre to avoid any untoward incidents. Prohibitory orders under section 144 of Cr. P.C. have been enforced at the counting centre and the police have made elaborate security arrangements.