Congress insures booth agents in violence-prone Kerala

Kannur (Kerala) May 12: Apprehending poll-related violence in this district, the Congress party has taken out a group insurance policy for its 570 booth agents, covering medical treatment and damage to property up to Rs.one lakh each.

The party paid a premium of Rs.one lakh and insured its 570 booth agents with the Oriental Insurance Company, Kannur District Congress Committee President K. Surendran said here.

"This is to show to the world that how the CPI-M acts in certain places during elections and after the elections. These agents will now be posted in sensitive and most sensitive polling booths in this district," said Surendran.

The Election Commission this time has identified more than 1200 sensitive booths in Kerala, most of which are in and around the district of Kannur.

The commission will employ micro-observers in these booths, put up web cameras and in places where internet connectivity is not there would be static cameras.

Kannur district has the dubious distinction of requiring the maximum number of central forces for the elections.

IANS