The State Election Commission (SEC) on Tuesday submitted before the Kerala High Court that appropriate steps would be taken to deploy sufficient police force and CCTVs at polling booths on election days.
The SEC counsel made the submission when a batch of writ petitions by UDF candidates in certain panchayats in Kannur and other northern districts seeking to deploy adequate police force for the smooth conduct of local body elections came up for hearing.
Disposing of the petitions, Justice V. Chitambaresh observed that what was needed for a free and fair poll was best left to the decision of the SEC taken in the consultation with the District Collectors.
The SEC further submitted that sensitive and troublesome areas had been identified. The election observers had been asked to keep a close watch on sensitive areas including the polling stations.
The SEC said that sufficient police forces had been deployed in sensitive areas to meet any law and order problem. Strict instructions were given to the police to take stringent action to prevent bogus voting, impersonation, booth capturing and other electoral malpractices. Any attempt to disturb the tranquillity so as to take advantage from countermanding election or any attempt to interfere with the smooth process of election would be dealt with seriously.
Besides, the police had been asked to provide adequate protection to voters, polling agents of all political parties and candidates and to assist the election machinery to ensure fair and free poll.
The petitioners, UDF candidates of Cheruthazham and Mayyil panchayat wards in Kannur district and others, sought a directive to deploy sufficient number of police and installation of CCTVs at the vulnerable polling booths. They said CPI(M) candidates were threatening them. Unless sufficient number of police force was deployed, the UDF agent and voters could not exercise their franchise.
The UDF candidate of Cheruthazham panchayat pointed out that in the last Assembly and panchayat elections, the UDF sympathisers were not allowed to cast their votes. The CPI(M) activists had trespassed into the polling booths and attacked the booth agents of UDF candidates. The petitioners feared that there was very likelihood of LDF workers preventing the UDF voters from voting.
