This Article is From May 02, 2012

By-polls: Electoral officer seeks 139 companies of Central police forces

Hyderabad: The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Andhra Pradesh will seek 139 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces for the by-polls to be held next month to 18 assembly constituencies and one Lok Sabha seat.

Chief Electoral Officer Bhanwar Lal, who held a video- conference with the Superintendents of Police and Returning Officers of 12 districts, told reporters that 139 companies will be sought from the Centre for the by-polls.

Each company comprises 130 personnel and they will be deployed in sensitive and hyper-sensitive polling stations, he said, adding that 134 check-posts would be set up to keep a watch on movement of illegal money and inducements like liquor.

The district officials told the CEO that flying squads, static surveillance teams have been formed for strict implementation of the model code of conduct.

The CEO said that Rs 12990000 and 15937 litres of illicit liquor have been seized during police checks and 294 people have been arrested since the model code of conduct came into force.

The by-polls are necessitated in 16 of the 18 Assembly seats following disqualification of many sitting Congress MLAs by the Speaker, for switching loyalty to Kadapa MP YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, while another MLA quit in support of Jagan.

Actor-turned-politician Chiranjeevi quit as MLA following his election to the Rajya Sabha which necessitated the by-poll. The polling will be held on June 12.

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