Security is in place in Bangalore for Sunday’s polling with 21,000 police personnel, including local and Central armed forces, deployed across the city, Police Commissioner Raghavendra H. Auradkar said here on Friday.
Briefing reporters on the security arrangements, he said the police have identified 276 vulnerable areas in and around the city. CCTV cameras have been installed at 256 of these places to monitor law and order during the elections.
The city police have booked cases against 214 persons under the Karnataka Police Act and rounded up 2,800 under preventive detention. The police confiscated Rs. 1.5 crore in cash along with gift items worth Rs. 17, 36,000 from people having links with political parties, which were meant to lure voters. Apart from this, 1,015 litres of liquor was seized and 154 cases under the Excise Act have been booked, Mr. Auradkar said.
Mobile squads too
The city police are using the services of 1,000 civil defence wardens, who will act as special police officers during polling. They will work with mobile squads under the guidance of an Assistant Commissioner of Police.
This is besides IPS probationary officers from the National Police Academy, who will also assist the city police in election duty as part of their practical training.
The police have so far maintained law and order and, except for the Malleswaram blast, the city has not witnessed any disturbances, Mr. Auradkar said.
Protection to candidates
Apart from security arrangements, the city police are providing protection to candidates, based on local police and intelligence reports.
The city police have requested the Department of Prisons not to allow parole facility for under-trials and convicts, except under special circumstances.
Sale of liquor has been banned from Friday midnight till Sunday midnight and again on the counting day of May 8 from 6 a.m. to midnight.
