The police in the capital district have identified nearly 400 sensitive booths for the November 2 polls, with 71 of them falling under the City police limits, and 327 under the Thiruvananthapuram Rural police.
According to H. Venkatesh, City Police Commissioner, security arrangements for polls in areas under the City police are already in place.
Apart from the regular security for all polling booths, there will be additional personnel and patrolling as well for the sensitive booths. In all, there will be 35 group patrols and 42 Law and Order patrol parties, apart from the ‘striking forces’ given to all sub-divisional officers and circle inspectors, comprising armed personnel to react to emergency situations. The Commissioner too will have a striking force at his disposal.
Along with around 400 private hands, including ex-service personnel and former paramilitary personnel who were recruited on a temporary basis as ‘special police officers’, there will be nearly 2,000 regular police personnel providing security during the polls, Mr. Venkatesh says.
In the 327 booths identified as sensitive under the Rural police, security would be handled by 152 group patrols, 76 Law and Order patrol parties, 30 circle inspectors and about 20 Deputy Superintendents of police, each of whom will have a striking force at his disposal. The Superintendent of Police (Thiruvananthapuram Rural) will supervise the proceedings. There will be around 5,500 personnel for the polls, including nearly 500 ‘special police officers.’
‘Striking forces’ to handle emergency situations
2,000 police personnel to be on duty
