UP: 663 CPMF companies deployed for ph II polls

Lucknow, Apr 11: A total of 663 companies of Central Para Military Forces have been deployed for phase II of assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh.

The phase II of polling will take place on April 13 in 58 constituencies spread across 10 districts of communally sensitive western UP. ''All the forces will reach their places of deployment by tomorrow evening,'' Principal secretary (Home) K Chandramauli said here.

Ghaziabad district, bordering Delhi, has been provided with a maximum of 91 companies, while Gautam Buddha Nagar has been provided with the least number of 31 companies.

The Election Commission, meanwhile, said 39 sections of CPMF are deployed in 13 districts, which went to poll during phase I on April 7, for protection of EVMs. Each district has been provided with three sections (24 men) for EVM security duty.

The Home department said Mathura has been given 51 companies, while Hathras has been provided with 40 companies for election duties. Aligarh, Bulandshahr, Meerut, Baghpat, Muzaffarnagar and Saharanpur have been provided with 86, 84, 78, 34, 90 and 75 companies of CPMF respectively.

On the directives of the EC, the state government has also deployed five IGs and as many DIGs for poll duties in the 10 districts going for election on Friday.

UNI