Security beefed up for poll counting in Arunachal, UP tomorrow

Itanagar/Lucknow, May 15: Elaborate security arrangements have been made in

for counting of votes tomorrow for two Lok Sabha and 49 state assembly seats, polling for which was conducted on April 9.

"We have deployed security personnel including central para military forces (CPMF) and state police in all the counting centres for ensuring smooth and violence-free counting," IGP (Law and Order) Satyendra Garg told PTI.

Additional CPMF personnel have been allotted to the state by the Centre as reinforcement to maintain law and order during counting and the period after it. Garg, who himself visited the counting centres today to oversee the arrangements during the day, said a three-layer security cover is in place and police barricades would be put up 100 m away from the counting halls on all sides as per the Election Commission orders.

The whole process of counting would be videographed and district electoral officers have asked the magistrates to be strict and prompt in their action while dealing with any law and order problem and filing of FIR, election office sources informed.

The fate of 143 candidates who contested from 49 assembly constituencies along with 11 candidates who were in the fray for Arunachal East and West parliamentary seats would be known during the counting tomorrow. The Congress had already won 11 assembly seats uncontested.

Security tightened in Uttar Pradesh

Lucknow, May 15: A state of high security alert was sounded in Uttar Pradesh, ahead of counting of votes for 80 Lok Sabha seats Friday, an official said Thursday.

Fearing clashes between supporters of winning and losing candidates, the state government asked all district officials to be vigilant for the next fortnight.

A state government spokesman here said all victory processions and other poll-result related events have been banned.

The local intelligence units have been sensitised, an official told IANS. Intelligence is also being gathered on goons and lumpen elements who may disrupt peace in sensitive areas, the official said.

Besides, police were asked to step up patrolling in sensitive areas like Azamgarh, Varanasi, Muzaffarnagar, Meerut, Gorakhpur, Faizabad and in minority dominated areas.

Director General of Police A.L. Banerjee, at a video-conference with district police chiefs, range and zonal officials, has asked them not to use telephone sets during the counting day. He directed them to use wireless sets.

PTI