With less than a month to go for the by-poll for the Tiruchi West Assembly constituency, the city police authorities have geared up for the exercise to ensure free and fair election.
Alongside establishing election control room, the law enforcers have already drawn up a comprehensive security plan that contains proposed deployment of police personnel for the by-election necessitated by the death of State Environment Minister N.Mariyam Pichai who was killed in a road accident in Perambalur district in May.
As per the detailed plan, the law enforcers have proposed to involve over 1,000 police personnel for bandobust duty for the by-election scheduled on October 13. In addition to utilising the local strength and those from the Armed Reserve, the city police authorities have sought three companies from the Tamil Nadu Special Police Battalion here.
The security plan has already been forwarded to the State police headquarters and the district administration authorities, say police sources adding that they expected some companies of central para-military forces for the upcoming by-poll.
The security plan also contains proposed strength to be part of striking force teams; moving patrols; flying squads; static surveillance and investigation teams. With the voters' strength exceeding 2 lakh, the Tiruchi West Assembly constituency would have 240 polling stations.
The sources say the election control room headed by an officer in the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police would provide the daily situation report pertaining to the by-poll besides identifying critical booths.
With model code of conduct already in place from the time the Election Commission announced the date of the by-election, the city police has registered two election-related cases so far – one against the AIADMK and the other against the Moovendar Munnetra Kazhagam for having installed flex boards in public places.
The sources said the Expenditure Observer appointed for the by-poll will arrive in Tiruchi on Monday when the filing of nominations is to commence.
