The State police must ensure peaceful polls as per the Election Commission's guidelines and directives. It is the responsibility of both the administrative officials and the police to ensure compliance with the model code of conduct.
This was stated by Director General (Training) Ashish Shrivastava during the second phase of training of police officers at the Academy of Administration here on Tuesday. Chief Electoral Officer Jaideep Govind, Commission's Joint Director (Poll Expenses Monitoring) BB Garg, Training Observer VC Rawat, IGs, DIGs, SPs and ASPs were present on the occasion. Ashish Shrivastava said the police would have to pay attention to critical and sensitive polling booths during Vidhan Sabha elections. Anti-social elements playing mischief during election should be strictly dealt with. Police will have to seize their weapons and strictly prohibit distribution of liquor and money.
They will have to keep strict watch over polling booths, especially the sensitive ones. Process for deployment of paramilitary forces will have to be undertaken as per the directives of the Election Commission, he said. Shrivastava said police officers should effectively use their knowledge and experience during the Vidhan Sabha elections. With this in view, the commission has given new dimensions to training this year. Trained SPs and ASPs should train subordinate staff from DSP to police station personnel. Police officers should remain in touch with district collectors so that elections can be conducted in a better way. District police should also chalk out their own action plan for ensuring peaceful elections. Police officers should not only have knowledge of legal provisions, but should also use them when time comes.
Jaideep Govind said that no irregularity will be allowed in Vidhan Sabha elections. CCTV cameras will be installed at polling booths to curb booth capturing. Collectors have identified such sensitive booths. Police had the important responsibility of curbing illegal activities during elections. Govind said police will have to meet the challenge of ensuring peaceful elections. Responsibility of ensuring free, fair and impartial elections in Madhya Pradesh will have to be discharged earnestly. He said that officers of various departments have been imparted training during the last 2 months. In Madhya Pradesh, 27 master trainers have been raised for training.
The third phase of training of police officers will include training to police personnel deployed in districts. Govind said that the number of voters in Madhya Pradesh has increased by 1 crore during the last 2 years while one-two lakh voters used to increase every year earlier. Similarly, photographs of 10 lakh voters were not in the electoral rolls earlier, while only 75,000 voters' photographs were left out now. Names of about 50,000 voters have been removed from the electoral rolls due to repetition.