Umerkote : CPMF to be deployed in all booths

BHUBANESWAR: Preparations for November 30 byelection to Umerkote Assembly constituency have been completed with arrangement for deployment of central para-military force (CPMF) in all booths. As the constituency is adjacent to neighbouring Maoist-hit Chhattisgarh, borders have been sealed.Responding to requests made by the candidates, the Election Commission has ordered deployment of CPMF personnel in every booth of the Maoist-hit constituency, official sources said.Elaborate security arrangements have been made with deployment of forces and patrolling in vulnerable places to prevent any trouble during the election, they said.Two senior district-level officers have been given the responsibility of Umerkote and Raighar blocks to prevent violation of model code of conduct.Training of 750 polling personnel has been completed.Umerkote Assembly segment has been divided into 17 sectors and as many sectoral officers have been appointed to supervise the polling.Five executive magistrates would be deployed on the polling day.Altogether 195 electronic voting machines (EVMs) are commissioned after checking in the presence of representatives of the political parties contesting the polls.Polling parties would be despatched to 162 booths on Monday for which 160 vehicles would be made available.Polling will be held from 8 am to 4 pm.The high-pitch campaign would come to an end on Monday at 4 pm.However, political parties are wary of the next move of the Naxalites in the seven gram panchayats of Raighar block which are the worst Maoist-hit and remain out of bounds to the administration.Raighar block has 24 gram panchayats.