Police on high alert for local body elections

Rajamahendravaram: East Godavari district SP D Narasimha Kishore has directed police officials to remain on high alert and make comprehensive security arrangements for the forthcoming municipal elections to ensure peaceful and transparent polling.He held a review meeting with police officials at Kovvur sub-divisional office and issued instructions on election security, preventive measures and enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct.

He directed officials to identify sensitive and highly sensitive areas and polling stations and make special security arrangements at vulnerable locations. Police should keep a close watch on history-sheeters and rowdy-sheeters and initiate preventive binding-over proceedings against persons likely to disturb public peace.

Pending non-bailable warrants should also be executed promptly, he said. The officials were instructed to intensify vehicle checks at check-posts to prevent illegal transportation of cash, liquor and other items intended to influence voters during elections. He warned that strict legal action would be taken against those spreading false information, rumours and provocative or hate-filled content on social media that could disturb public order during election period.

Police personnel should maintain comprehensive information about wards and polling stations under their respective police station limits and coordinate with local residents to gather intelligence. Any untoward incident should be reported immediately to senior officers, he said. The SP also directed officials to expedite investigation of cases related to previous elections and ensure adequate security until the completion of the electoral process. He instructed police personnel not to yield to pressure or inducements and to discharge their duties without bias, ensuring that voters could exercise their franchise freely and fearlessly. He warned that violations of the election code would invite strict action. Kovvur Sub-Divisional DSP G Devakumar and other police personnel attended the meeting.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Deekshitula Subrahmanyam

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Deekshitula RV Subrahmanyam is a Staff Reporter with The Hans India, covering the erstwhile East and West Godavari districts, along with Alluri Sitarama Raju and Polavaram districts. A journalist with experience of over three decades, he began his career as a Telugu mofussil reporter in 1991. He writes extensively on politics, tribal affairs, rural development, tourism, development, and human-interest stories He is the author of the six-part Telugu prose Ramayana Sitarama Kathasudha and has received several literary and journalistic honours, including the JCI Young Writer Award, Vadlamudi Rammohan Rao Memorial Award and Madduri Annapurnayya Memorial Award.

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