In an attempt to conduct free and fair Municipal poll-2018, the district administration has initiated the process of mapping vulnerable polling booths categorizing them into three levels.
As many as 798 polling booths have been demarcated here in the State biggest Urban local Body (UlB) in Ranchi, out of which over 20 percent polling booths are such that requires additional deployment of forces to combat untoward incidents.
Based on the past history, where any untoward incidents had occurred earlier, sensitive and hyper sensitive groupings, the vulnerable polling booths are being identified by the district administration.
“Officers-in-charge (OCs) of all police stations have been instructed to prepare the list of vulnerable booths. Two rounds of meeting have been already conducted with the OCs and other senior police officials. Nearly 20 percent sensitive polling booths have been identified by far by the officials covering different areas. Final lists of vulnerable polling booths will be released soon,” said Ranchi SDO and Returning Officer (RO) for Mayor’s election, SDO Ranchi, Anjali Yadav.
Meanwhile, senior district officials during high level meeting on March 31 instructed the authorized persons to check all essential arrangements by conducting physical verification of all polling booths.
Also, instructions of ensuring basic arrangements like proper lighting, availability of drinking water including necessary preparations for differently-abled persons and elderly voters before hand at all polling booths have been issued to the respective Circle Officers (COs). Besides deputation of extra forces, provision of temporary check posts has been made from law and order perspectives.
Furthermore, on enquiring about the cases of Model Code of Conduct violation, Yadav said that the promotional activities of all Mayoral candidates including others are on the radar of district administration.
“A few complaints of Model Code of Conduct violation have been lodged against the candidates. After cross-verifying the facts, action will be taken against the violators,” she further added.