Karwar: The Election Commission has made all preparation to conduct the Lok Sabha elections peacefully and transparently in Uttara Kannada district. It has identified vulnerable and critical polling booths and has taken steps to step up security there.

Superintendent of Police Vinayak Patil told DH that the vulnerable polling booths have been identified considering the situations which prevailed at those booths during the previous elections.

Vulnerable booths

“Polling booths which have witnessed group clashes, communal clash and other forms of criminal activities in the previous elections have been identified as vulnerable. Platoons of Central Armed forced are visiting such polling booths and reviewing the situation. Also, additional police personnel will be deployed at those booths,” Patil explained.

Critical booths

The top cop of the district also said that critical polling booths are identified based on the guidelines and parameters issued by the Election Commission. The polling booths, which have witnessed over 90% voting and where above 70-75% of polling were recorded in favour of one candidate in the previous elections, have been put in the critical category. Also, the booths which had witnessed no polling, and violence in the last assembly and general polls are considered critical. Booths in which a large number of voters were not issued electors photo identity card or which has a large number of missing voters are also critical.

Tight security

“Additional security arrangement is being made to monitor vulnerable and critical polling booths. The armed forces will be deployed based on availability. In case, sufficient number of platoons of armed forces are not provided, an arrangement of CCTV camera or webcasting or appointing micro observers will be made. The deputy commissioner has the powers to implement either one of these,” the SP explained.

He said that as elections in the State will be held in two phases, it was difficult to tell the exact number of Central Armed forces which will be deployed in the district. Additional State police personnel will be summoned from other districts during the polling.