Poll and police machinery in The Nilgiris is gearing up for an uphill task, as they will just not be facing poll-related clashes or skirmishes, they have the stupendous task of averting human–wildlife conflict and ensure that left wing extremism never plays any spoil sport with the democratic process.
Talking to The Hindu , the Nilgiris District Collector P. Sankar said that going by the recent experiences in human–animal conflict, the administrative machinery has taken all precautions to prevent any untoward incidents during the poll process. The poll machinery has got 19 special teams of the Forest Department ready on the wheels to perambulate the areas coming under 37 polling stations in Gudalur constituency besides a few in the Nilgiris North and South.
The special teams will ensure the safe transportation of poll materials and polling staff to the polling stations the previous day and maintain vigil in peripheral areas on the poll day to prevent risk to the lives of the electorate. The teams will also ensure safe transportation of materials back to the safe rooms.
The Superintendent of Police, the Nilgiris, Murali Ramba told The Hindu that of the 378 polling booths in 357 locations in the district, 50 locations having 138 booths were identified as vulnerable. As many as 15 pockets that shared borders with Karanataka on one side and Kerala are on the other side are in sharp focus of the police machinery.
A three-tier security mechanism is in place with the Special Task Force (STF) taking position on the first outer ring, followed by local police and Central Paramilitary Force personnel in the first inner ring. Indo Tibetian Border Police personnel have been deployed in adequate numbers in Gudalur and Devala sub-divisions.
STF personnel have already commenced perambulation of the jungle areas bordering human habitations to sterilise the zone.
