650 companies of central forces for UP poll

Lucknow, Mar 7 (UNI) As many as 650 companies of central forces would be deployed to ensure free and fair seven-phase Uttar Pradesh assembly poll.

According to reports here, the central forces would be deployed in all the 1.10 lakh polling booths, while the UP Police would be entrusted with the law and order situation.

The EC will provide a 'blue print' to the state government for deployment of the central and state forces separately.

State Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Anuj Kumar Bishnoi said here today the Election Commission was serious about officials, who delayed the completion of issuing Election Photo Identity Cards (EPIC).

''It is certain that the EC will take action against some erring officials of 10 districts, where the compliance of EPIC was below average,'' he informed.

The EC has already ordered completion of 95 per cent EPIC of the total over 110 million voters before the UP assembly poll.

Mr Bishnoi said all the districts have been given time till March 10 to complete the target, but work was underway to identify the erring officials.

He said to speed up EPIC work, about 500 camera teams have been sought from Haryana, while similar number of camera teams would be taken from Uttarakhand.

To a question about the fate of some tainted officers, he said the EC was working on it, but disclosed the state government has asked for shifting of four district police chiefs.

''We are waiting for the EC's approval in the transfer of some UP police officers,'' he confirmed.

UNI