With the aim of ensuring security and law and order in the district during the Assembly elections, a special police team has been constituted, said District Superintendent of Police A. Akbar.
Headed by Mr. Akbar, the team include 11 Deputy Superintendents of Police (DySPs), two Assistant Commanders, 15 Circle Inspectors, 44 Sub-Inspectors, 1,420 civil police officers, 148 home guards, 558 Special Police officers and three companies of the Kerala Armed Police (KAP) Battalions.
In addition, officials of the Departments of Excise, Forests, Motor Vehicles and Vigilance, and the Railway Police have also been deployed for maintaining vigil.
Presiding over a special training programme of the police held here, District Collector and Electoral Officer Mini Antony the preparations had been jointly made by the district authorities and the Police Department.
Village officers have been given the additional responsibility of sectoral magistrates during the polls and will function together with the police in maintaining law and order.
Adequate safety and security measures will be provided while maintaining the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in strong rooms. Greater surveillance will be ensured at sensitive booths that are vulnerable to electoral offences.
Demonstrations and public meetings should be held only with the consent of the police.
Training
The second phase of the training for the presiding and polling officers will be held on April 7 and 8. The following are the training centres for the nine Assembly constituencies of the district: Pala – St. Thomas HSS Auditorium; Kaduthuruthy – St. Mary's Boys' HS Hall, Kuravilangad; Vaikom – Government Girls' HSS Hall; Kottayam – Baker Memorial HSS Auditorium; Ettumanur – St. Aloysius HSS Auditorium, Athirampuzha; Puthupally – M.D. Seminary HSS Auditorium, Kottayam; Changanassery – S.B. HSS Auditorium; Kanjirappally – St. Dominic HSS Auditorium; and Poonjar - St. Dominic HSS Hall, Kanjirappally.
