The Delhi Police’s focus for the civic polls in the national capital will be on increasing visibility, preventing the possibility of communal flare-ups and preventing candidates from “wooing voters” through illegal means.
Elections to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) spread over 250 wards are to be held on December 4. The counting of votes will take place on December 7.
Sensing the rising political mood ahead of the elections, Special Commissioner (Law and Order) Dipendra Pathak said the eight districts under his jurisdiction, stretching from Singhu to Ghazipur, comprise a major part of the population in the national capital.
As a result, the area has come under increased attention from various political parties, he said.
“Our policing has focused on the MCD elections for the last six to eight weeks. The focus is on regular policing, vigilance and local intelligence gathering. We are collating information and analyzing sector wise data and strategizing…
“We are also analyzing the candidates and demographic composition of the area. For example, if certain areas have more jhuggi jhopri (slum) clusters, they become more vulnerable.
Elaborating further, he said there was a need to increase police presence in slums as voters could be lured with liquor and there could be chances of miscreants coming from across the border.
The senior official said that areas will be scanned, local issues will be taken care of and strategy will be made accordingly.
“This process has been going on for the last six to eight weeks. Based on these factors, local and district police organize their patrolling patterns and focus on information gathering.
If it is a communally sensitive area, we need to know what is going on in the area. We are also keeping a close watch on gambling and the supply of alcohol and drugs.”
He said that the police would also take action on the basis of the data of the last elections that who was active from which political party and what kind of crimes were committed.
The police are also keeping an eye on strongrooms where Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) will be kept, counting centers and polling booths depending on their condition – whether serious or normal.
Pathak said that home guards, paramilitary forces and flying squad will be deployed accordingly and an elaborate arrangement has been made.
Senior officers at the district level have been asked to remain in office during the night, while SHOs have been instructed to attend to any calls related to mass fighting, clashes or issues with a communal colour.
Election process and policing is a comprehensive and exhaustive exercise and includes pre, during and post election phases.
Police presence is necessary if two different political parties are coming face to face to avoid confrontation or confrontation. There is a need for visibility and immediate intervention to prevent any situation from getting out of hand,” he said while addressing apprehensions of breach of peace.
He said checking of vehicles has been increased and searches of persons are also being done to ascertain whether any illegal weapon is being carried.
“We have a very elaborate policing system. Thousands of our personnel including outside forces will be deployed for the election process. Five to six companies of paramilitary forces will be deployed in every district to guard the strongrooms. There will be CCTV cameras and 24×7 police presence to check entry and exit.
On the election day, all booths and premises will be covered scale wise with heavy police presence,” the senior official said.
He insisted that all the guidelines of Election The commission will be followed and law and order will be maintained flawlessly to instill “a huge element of trust” among voters.
“We have already spoken to people, members of civil societies, ‘peace committees’, market associations, all offices and field formations and owners of small roadside shops. Every area is important to ensure smooth elections.”
Emphasizing that the role of the police does not end with the elections, Pathak said that it is also important to maintain security after the counting of votes and after the celebratory events.
“We are here with the focused role of maintaining law and order and providing a very safe and secure environment, in seamless coordination with the Election Commission and civic agencies involved in the conduct of elections.
If anything is going to be disturbed by this, professional police and legal action will be taken, Pathak said.
read all latest politics news Here