A three-tier security apparatus has been put in place for counting of votes for the Delhi Assembly polls, likely to elect a popular government in the Capital after a year-long President’s Rule.
The Delhi Election Commission said it has made elaborate arrangements for counting of the ballots, which will take place at 14 centres across the city.
“Counting of votes will start at 8 a.m. and all results should be out by 1 p.m.,” an Election Commission official said, adding that the process will be video-graphed.
“There is a three-tier security for the EVMs. The machines have been kept inside the strongrooms made in nine districts. Each strongroom is guarded by Central Industrial Security Force [CISF] personnel, the armed and local police,” said an official of the Election Commission.
At least 10,000 security personnel, including those from the CISF, the Central Reserve Police Force, the Sashatra Seema Bal and the Delhi Police, have been deployed to guard the 20,000 electronic voting machines that have remained under lockdown since Saturday’s Delhi Assembly polls.
Workers of various political parties will be allowed inside the counting halls on Tuesday, when results for the 70-member Delhi Assembly are announced, said officials.
According to a police source, Delhi Police officers, especially those from the Special Branch, will be stationed at all counting centres to keep an eye on any possible tampering, as well as law and order apprehensions.
“As far as we are concerned, we will ensure that counting centres located in sensitive districts like South, East and Central are given priority and any untoward incident is nipped in the bud,” an officer said.
He added that several mobile surveillance units will also be deployed in these areas besides ground deployment.
At least 10,000 security personnel have been deployed to guard the 20,000 electronic voting machines
