Eighty two patrolling routes have been tagged to police party in the first phase of the panchayat poll here in Palamu. Palamu district returning officer cum DC K Srinivasan said besides this there would be peripheral policing also on the day of voting November 22.
Srinivasan said vigil has been more beefed up for Pipra and Harihurganj blocks. The administration has even pressed chowkidars for poll security apart from HG jawans added Srinivasan.
Srinivasan looked confident that the morale of the polling parties and patrolling magistrates is very high and this is because of no trust deficit he reiterated. Srinivasan assured all help and co operation to the polling parties who are 807 in the first phase.
Forty five clusters have been set up for the Sunday poll. Srinivasan declined to give the locations of the clusters for the safety reasons.
Medical aid unit with ambulances in each of the 6 blocks that go to poll on Sunday has been kept standby he added. The polling parties have been given medical kit to meet any minor winter ailment.
A patrolling magistrate Mahinder Tiwary said the morale of the team is high and hopes to conduct a free and fair poll. Tiwary is a PG teacher of political science.
A total of 96 booths has been relocated. The relocation is purely for security reasons.
Srinivasan said Harihurganj block which is few steps away from Bihar state has 41 relocation of booths.
Second high block is Hussainabad where the relocation of booths is 32. The lowest relocation of booth is in Mohammadganj block where just one booth has been relocated. Sources said relocation has been done keeping in mind the distance for the voters. Inconvenience is expected but for security it is a little discomfort said a voter Krishna in Mohammadganj block.
Srinivasan said the relocation has been done after due consultation with the contestants who also supported theadministration’s concern for safety and security of the polling parties and patrolling magistrates.
Sources said patrolling magistrates arrived late at GlA college embark centre which saw DC Srinivasan in a bit tense mood but once the entire team rolled out from there for respective clusters Srinivasan rushed to hold his second press briefing one hour late.
Sources said the administration is cross fingered as Palamu remains highly unpredictable. 2,57, 536 voters will cast votes. The number of female voters is 1,16, 878.
DIG Palamu Saket Kumar Singh said police administration would put to use the available security strength to its hilt. He declined to give the exact number of companies of security forces.
Sources said Palamu administration hopes its first phase which is near Bihar border from Pipra Harihurganj and Hussainabd and Mohammadganj side will pass off peacefully.
DC Srinivasan and SP Patel Mayur K lal inducted the poll personnel teams and cautioned them not to be complacent at any stage. A kind of advisory was sounded for the poll parties.