Even as the dates for the Lok Sabha elections are yet to be announced, police personnel in Tiruchi, Perambalur, and Pudukottai districts have readied particulars on manpower, shortages, and number of polling stations. Having already put in place election control cells in the respective district headquarters recently, police authorities have now nominated field-level personnel to form part of flying squads and static surveillance teams in the three districts.
The field-level personnel along with revenue officials were sensitised to a gamut of things connected with elections, including model code of conduct, role of flying squads and static surveillance teams, election violation cases, and strict adherence to the Election Commission guidelines during training programmes organised in Tiruchi and Perambalur.
Police sources said the flying squads and static surveillance teams would be constituted once the Election Commission announced the poll dates.
The squads and teams would each be headed by an Executive Magistrate assisted by a group of police personnel and deployed in every Assembly constituency in the three districts.
Both teams would be entrusted with the responsibility of checking all types of violations, including distribution of money and other forms of gift articles, and video record the entire checking process.
Alongside this, police on their part have made a preliminary identification of critical polling stations and vulnerable areas that may require additional strength. This has been done based on the past experiences and incidents.
In addition to this, data relating to number of striking forces required for the three districts, number of pickets to be posted, and strength required for essential duties for maintenance of law and order and investigation of offences have been kept ready.
All communication received time to time from the State Police headquarters on Lok Sabha elections would be conveyed to the field-level officers through the respective election control cells. Those attached to the squads and teams would not be utilised for other duties.
The exercise of transferring police constables, sub inspectors, and inspectors in view of the elections is already over in the three districts.
