Lok Sabha Elections: Central forces in problematic areas, 41976 police officers for security

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Security arrangements for smooth and safe polling in the Lok Sabha elections have been completed. A large number of police officers has been deployed across the state as per the instructions of the Central Election Commission.

41,976 police officers have been assigned for election work in the state. 183 DySPs, 100 inspectors and 4,540 sub-inspectors/assistant sub-inspectors will provide security for the elections.

23,932 Senior Civil Police Officers/Civil Police Officers, 4,383 police officers from the Armed Police Battalion and 4,464 officers from various central forces will provide security during the election. 2,874 from Home Guard and 1,500 from Tamil Nadu Police have also been deployed. In addition, 24,327 special police officers will also be on duty.

There will be 144 election sub-divisions under 20 district police chiefs in the state. DySPs will be in charge of these sub-divisions. Each police station will have two patrolling teams to maintain law and order. Moreover, one team of Rapid Action Force will be present within the limits of every police station on the day of the election. A group patrol system has also been introduced by dividing the polling stations into clusters.

Special security measures have been taken by deploying the central Forces in the Maoist-affected areas. Central forces have also been deployed at the polling stations which have been found to be problematic. ADGP MR Ajith Kumar is the state-level nodal officer for police deployment. Police Headquarters IG Harshita Attaluri is the assistant police nodal officer.