Puducherry:
Elaborate security arrangements have been put in place in the Union Territory ahead of the counting of votes on Friday, a top police official said here today. Puducherry went to polls on April 13.
Deputy Inspector General of Police Atul Khatiyar said 65 senior police officers, 625 constables and two sections of Central Industrial Security Force will be on duty to ensure law and order in and around the Bharathidasan Government College for women, the counting centre for the votes polled in Puducherry's 23 constituencies.
Police have identified 25 sensitive pockets in the Puducherry region and armed police personnel will be deployed in these pockets for 24 hours from 8 am tomorrow, Khatiyar said.
District Election officer G Ragesh Chandra said counting will start from 8 am onwards and elaborate arrangements were made at the centres for smooth conduct of counting. "Only persons with identity cards will be permitted inside the counting centre", he said.
He added the counting centre for Karaikal will be Aringar Anna Government Arts college and counting centres for the Mahe and Yanam regions will be Jawaharlal Nehru government higher secondary school and the mini civil station respectively.
Chandra said prohibitory orders under section 144 CrPC had been promulgated and none would be allowed to carry arms or ammunitions near the counting centres. Liquor, toddy and arrack shops and bar-attached restaurants will remain closed on Friday. He said executive magistrates had been appointed to effectively supervise the law and order situation.
Chandra said EC had appointed ten observers to monitor counting in Puducherry district. He appealed to all candidates, their agents and political parties to extend full cooperation for its smooth conduct.
Ninety seven supervisors, an equal number of assistants and 79 micro observers were being deployed, he said, adding each counting table will be video graphed during counting process.
Khatiyar said 44 cases involving poll-related violence had been booked since the model code of conduct came into force in the Union Territory and the accused in all but three cases had been charge sheeted.
Khatiyar said of the 103 cases booked for alleged violation of model code of conduct, the police have transferred six cases to the CID unit in Puducherry.