Unprecedented security for May 3 assembly polls

Kannur, May 1 (UNI) Massive security arrangements are in place in the politically volatile Kannur and Kasargod districts in Kerala going to assembly polls in the third phase on May three following alleged electoral malpratices.

Altogether 9000 security personnel drawn from Kerala, Karnataka Rajasthan, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu police forces have been deployed in Kannur, where all the polling booths were declared as sensitive, Superintendent of Police Mathew Polycarp, overseeing security arrangements in the district, told UNI.

Each booth would by manned by five policemen, he said adding as many as 650 digital cameras were installed in differnt parts to photograph the polling process.

Mr Polycarp said similar arrangements had also been made in the neighbouring Kasargod district as well.

The Election Commission(EC) had decided to conduct voting in these districts in the last-leg, while considering repeated allegations of mischief, he said.

The decision to hold separate polls, under massive security, was reportedly taken on a suggestion by the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF), following alleged ''unscrupulous methods'' employed by CPI(M)-headed Left Democratic Front(LDF) in their stronghold.

Describing the move as intimidation, the CPI(M), however said, it was only aimed at scaring away people from exercising their precious franchise.

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