THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala has asked 131 companies of the central army to provide security for the Lok Sabha elections. Five companies of CRPF were deployed in districts including Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram. Ten companies will arrive on Monday. A company will be around 70-100 members. 50,000 personnel including police, excise, forest, motor vehicles and home guard will be deployed. There will be 10000 special police officers including ex-servicemen and retired.

There are more than 3000 problematic booths. Caution will have to be exercised at more than half of these booths. In Malappuram, Wayanad, Kannur, Palakkad and Kasaragod districts where the Maoists are present, commandos, Thunderbolts and Rapid Action Forces will be deployed along with the central forces. Anti-Naxal trained teams of CRPF will also be deployed along with striking force units.

There will be around 45,000 booths in 22,400 polling locations. There might be an increase of more than two thousand booths.

4 central army personnel in booth with high probability of problem

Four central army personnel in each booth in A-Category, which is considered to be a high risk category.

Two central army personnel and more police in B-category booths, where the problem is likely not severe.

Control for police

The central force will act as per the orders of the SP or the subdivisional officers. The main responsibilities are to maintain law and order in the polling centre, control crowding and assist the voters. In case of emergency, central forces will be deployed anywhere in the constituency. They'll return only after declaration of result.

Armory

The central army barracks will have a large arsenal of 9 mm pistols, INSAS rifles, INSAS light machine guns, automatic grenade launchers, AK 47, AKM rifles and the Israeli Tavor rifle.

150 crores

At least Rs 150 crores will be required for security expenditure. All accommodation, food, travel and return travel expenses of the central army are borne by the police. This will then be returned by the Centre.