CHENNAI: Greater Chennai City Police is making an all-out effort to ensure free and fair local body election, scheduled in two phases on October 17 and 19. To leave no room for anti-election activities, 102 miscreants have been detained under the Goondas Act since the date of poll notification. Deterrent and preventive action has also been taken against 1,367 history-sheeters.At least 567 cases of violation of model code of conduct have been registered against political parties.“We have identified and detained anti-social elements, who pose a potential threat to smooth conduct of elections,” said J K Tripathy, Commissioner of Police, Greater Chennai City. He also warned that stringent action would be taken as per law against those who indulge in any kind of violence on polling day. A total of 1,664 firearms belonging to individuals have been deposited with the police. Chennai Corporation has 4,876 polling stations in the first phase of elections, while the rest 58 are in village panchayats in Tiruvallur district. At least 1,905 of the total 4,934 stations have been identified sensitive. Almost 12,000 police personnel will be on poll duty, including four additional commissioners of police, six joint commissioners of police, 18 deputy commissioners of police, 70 assistant commissioners of police, 310 inspectors of police, 575 SIs and 10,000 others. Also 381 mobile parties comprising one sub-inspector or special sub-inspector, head constable or post constable and special police officer each will have to collect EVMs/ballot boxes from the distribution centres to submit it at the counting centres.Pickets will be posted at 408 sensitive places. At least 391 striking forces from the rank of commissioner of police to inspectors will be on alert. The services of 1,500 home guards, 100 retired police personnel, 200 ex-servicemen and 1,000 National Service Scheme volunteers and NCC cadets will be utilised. Tripathy also said, “Three companies of police have arrived from Maharashtra so far.” The second phase of election will be held in 1,497 polling stations, of which 490 have been identified sensitive. Of this, 597 come under Tiruvallur revenue district and 900 under Kancheepuram district. 2,200 for Filming PollsFollowing Madras HC orders, videographers will be hired for filming the poll process. “As on Saturday 9 pm, 1,200 people have registered through our toll free number. Another 1,000 registered online. We have also mobilised laptops with cameras for capturing the voting process. At least 28,000 government employees and 376 mobile zonal parties are also involved,” said Chennai Corporation Commissioner D Karthikeyan.
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