Security tightened for TN assembly polls

Chennai, May 7 : Elaborate security measures have been made throughout the state to ensure that the elections to Tamil Nadu assembly tomorrow pass off peacefully.

Police sources said over one lakh security personnel, including 196 companies of para-military forces and state police, had been deployed throughout the state.

The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Naresh Gupta said deployment of 196 companies, including armed forces, was more than that for the previous elections.

In the 2001 Assembly poll, 111 companies of para-military forces were deployed, while for the 2004 Lok Sabha poll, the number was increased to 125.

The companies included Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and Reserve Police Personnel from neighbouring states.

The security personnel, accompanied by armed forces, already deployed in the districts, have taken up positions in areas identified as 'sensitive'.

Apart from this, hundreds of homeguards, ex-servicemen and retired police personnel were also summoned to assist the forces in providing security cover.

The sources said the ''high security drill'', would commence from today and continue till the counting of votes is completed on May 11.

The election authorities and police had identified 60 of the 234 constituencies in the state as sensitive.

In Chennai city, 302 of the 5,928 polling booths were identified as sensitive and extra security cover had been provided in these booths. Police took out flag marches in a number of places to infuse confidence in people.

In the city alone, about 12,000 local police personnel and 1,500 from para-military forces had been pressed into bandobust duty.

Apart from this, a sizeable number of strike and commando forces were also being kept ready to meet any eventuality on polling and counting days, police said.

The authorities had formed 360 patrolling teams and earmarked eight teams per constituency to escort officials, who would carry Electronic Voting Machines(EVM) and other materials to polling stations in the city. For the city and surroundings, with 19 Assembly constituencies, security measures were being monitored by an Assistant Police Commissioner of Police.

Round-the-clock security would be provided from May eight at the four counting centres in the city at Anna University, Presidency College, Loyola College and Queen Marys college, the sources added.

More than 5,000 anti-social elements, including criminals against whom arrest warrents had been issued by various courts, had been taken into preventive custody.

As part of security measures, the authorities ordered the closure of all Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) retail outlets and bars attached to them from 1700 hrs today to 1700 hrs on May eight, and on May 11, counting day.

UNI