Director General of Police (Elections) Ashutosh Shukla on Wednesday said that more than 3,000 police personnel would be deployed for security arrangements in Aravakurichi Assembly constituency to ensure incident-free polling during the by-election on May 19.
Speaking to reporters after reviewing the security arrangements, he said that foolproof security would be provided to ensure peace before and after polling. Eight companies of Tamil Nadu Special Police and three companies of Central Armed Reserve Police Force were among those drafted for security.
Police officials in the rank of Deputy Superintendents of Police and Inspectors, in addition to the existing officers, had been posted for Aravakurichi, Velayuthampalayam, K. Paramathi, Chinna Dharapuram and Thennilai police stations for better maintenance of law and order.
Mr. Shukla said 250 polling booths had been set up at 159 centres in the Aravakurichi constituency. Of them, 29 booths had been identified as sensitive based on incidents reported in past elections. More attention would be paid at sensitive booths to prevent untoward incidents. Central Armed Reserve Police Force (CARPF) would be posted at all sensitive booths.
He said as many as 42 persons had been identified as potential trouble makers in the constituency. All of them were warned and executed bonds that they would not indulge in anti-social activities. They would be closely monitored. Mr. Shukla said that 36 flying squads and 18 static surveillance teams were formed to carry out surprise and random checks based on intelligence inputs. They would function on shift basis. Twenty three checks posts were set up at different entry points to the Aravakurichi constituency. All vehicles would be checked to prevent transport of unaccounted money.
V. Varadharaju, Inspector General of Police, Law and Order, Central Zone, Lalitha Lakshmi, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Tiruchi range, T.K. Rajasekaran, Superintendent of Police and senior officials participated in the review meeting.