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MP seeks 40,000 central security personnel for poll

The Madhya Pradesh government has sought 385 companies of central forces to maintain law and order and ensure smooth conduct of the assembly election in the state.

State Chief Electoral Officer A K Vijayavargiya told reporters in Bhopal that as polling in all 320 constituencies is to be held on a single day, additional arrangements have to be made for vehicles and security forces.

Besides seeking more than 40,000 central security personnel, he said efforts were being made to secure more Home Guard jawans from other states. He said about 60,000 personnel of the state police would also be deployed on election duty.

Vijayavargiya said that 25 per cent of the 56,734 polling stations in the state have been placed in the sensitive category, but this could change after the completion of filing of nominations.

Similarly, 40 per cent of the polling stations in Naxalite-infested areas are likely to be classified as sensitive, he added.

He said about 400,000 employees would be on duty on polling day, and all of them have been provided insurance cover.

Vijayavargiya said the drive against anti-social elements is continuing in all districts and instructions have been issued to take preventive action against all those who had committed poll-related offences in the past.

Till now, about 45,000 licensed weapons have been deposited in police stations and 1,300 illegal weapons have been seized, he added.

UNI

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