The Assembly election approaching nearer, police have been asked to clamp down sternly on the anti-social elements. Informing this, State DGP MA Ganapathy said on Tuesday that they would leave nothing to chance as far as peace during the election is concerned. Special security steps are being taken for the areas of the state bordering Nepal in view of the possibility of the Maoists insurgents disrupting the election process, he said. “We keep in mind the fact of some unidentified persons having pasted posters on the walls of government buildings in several places in Almora district asking the people to boycott the 2014 lok Sabha elections. However, this time around, there is no such intelligence report with us. Still we have chosen to be on our toes. We are stressing on intensified patrolling and vehicle checking drives at the places marked as vulnerable from the law and order point of view,” he said.
He said that the district police heads have been directed to try all means to keep things under control as far as the sensitive and ultra- sensitive areas are concerned, adding that police must act in accordance with the records of the past elections.
The 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. “We would embark on a drive against the criminals who are presently fugitives across the state. Besides, we would be alert at the places known as communally vulnerable. The district police officers have been directed to identity the sensitive and ultra- sensitive places from the standpoint of the election and to act accordingly,” he said. District police chiefs are told 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. “The police officers have been directed to ensure fool-proof security at markets, bus stands, railway stations, cinemas and the like,” state top cop added.