250 companies of security personnel for MP polls

Bhopal, Nov 17 (UNI) With the objective of ensuring impartial and peaceful polls in all 230 assembly constituencies of Madhya Pradesh on November 27, 150 companies of central security personnel and 100 of the state Special Armed Force would be deployed.

''The state's border with Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Gujarat has been sealed as per Director-General of Police S K Raut's directive. About 23,000 officers and constables of the Home Guard have been requisitioned from Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra, Bihar and Chhattisgarh,'' a state police spokesman said here today.

Besides them, roughly 50,000 officers and constables of the state's district police force and Home Guard are on election duty along with kotwars, Forest and Excise departments' officials.

Special arrangements are being made for sensitive polling centres in Gwalior, Chambal and Balaghat. Dacoit activity is suspected in the former two while the last includes naxalism-affected areas.

Two lakh licensed weapons were deposited in police stations and more than 3,000 illegal weapons seized. As many as 2,62,871 anti-social elements were made to fill bonds that they would not break the law. A total 29,813 arrest warrants were executed.

Criminals are being speedily externed under the National Security Act. Control rooms were set up in cities, district headquarters and at sub-divisional level.

Poll training was imparted down to police station level.

Booklets, video cassettes and compact discs were readied underlining police duties, rights and responsibilities. Adequate numbers of modern and improved communication equipment were being made available in all districts.

UNI PKJ-AC 1704