Police keep tabs on anti-social elements

Asked to identify problematic areas, keep vigil on caste and communal organisations for smooth conduct of local body polls, writes R.Rajaram

Checking the activities of anti-social elements; keeping a close watch on the activities of caste and communal organisations and marching beats and patrols in remote and sensitive areas are some of the key steps law enforcers have been instructed to take in the run up to the local body polls, to be held in mid-October, for ensuring its smooth conduct.

With less than a month to go for the two-phase local body elections, police officers in the Central Zone have been briefed about the host of pre-election measures to be carried out as instructed by the State police headquarters and the security arrangements to be made for peaceful polling.

Alongside establishing election control room in every district falling under the Central Zone, law enforcers have simultaneously embarked on the task of drawing up manpower requirements for bandobust duty for the polls to be held on October 17 and 19.

Law enforcers have been asked to identify problematic areas in each district and initiate all necessary steps to maintain law and order. Thrust has been accorded to control rowdyism by taking action against anti-social elements under preventive sections of the Criminal Procedure Code or for specific offences.

In addition to getting themselves acquainted with activities of anti-social elements and their places of stay, field-level police officers have been instructed to send patrols to places where rowdies were likely to create trouble. Maintaining a register in each police station to exclusively note down election-related incidents, its details, cases registered and the action taken on them; intensifying action to seize unlicensed arms and ammunitions; carrying out thorough check of all explosive shops and warning the licensees to desist from carrying out any unauthorised sale of explosives, and checking electoral offences are some of the other important instructions from the police headquarters.

Police sources say field-level officers had been directed to visit important localities falling under their respective limits; study the areas and coordinate with the revenue officials besides inspecting each booth.

Planning would be on bigger scale, police sources say adding that Home Guards and Ex-servicemen would also be utilised for bandobust duty for the upcoming polls.