Mangalore, Apr 15: In a peace meeting called by the Dakshina Kannada district administration ahead of elections, deputy commissioner and district election officer A B Ibrahim said that the administration was laying stress on ethical voting in the district, which would be instrumental in curbing unethical practices such as bribery or enticement and also ensure maximum voter turnout on polling day.
Taking cognizance of a complaint regarding the influx of people from outside the state to cast their votes as fake registered voters along the Karnataka-Kerala border in Sullia taluk, the administration has decided to completely seal the border and also withdraw maximum number of inter-state buses to be used for election purposes. All the security checkposts in the bordering areas have been shifted to the border, he said, addressing representatives of political parties, communities and organisations in the meeting.
Additional security deployed for smooth polling
DK Superintendent of Police Dr S D Sharanappa said that nearly 2,500 personnel had been deployed for security purposes in the district, from District Armed Reserve Police, Karnataka State Police, Home Guards, and Armed Reserve Police from Maharashtra and Kerala.
Giving assurances of safety in naxal-affected areas, he said that combing operations were being conducted around polling booths in such areas by the Anti-Naxal Squad. A suitable communication plan has been readied to ensure round-the-clock communication to each polling booth. Close to 111 sector mobiles will be working day-and-night in urban and rural areas in the district to ensure law and order during the polling process. A total of 56 CCTV cameras have been installed in 17 places for surveillance during polling. The complete storage of recordings will be stored in another place as a determent to anti-social elements, so that the recordings should not be tampered with. Banners and flags of candidates or political parties are banned in the no man's zone' - 100 metres around the polling booth, he said, appealing to people to help maintain discipline and decorum during the next two days.
With 72 hours prior to the polling day being crucial, utmost security measures have been deployed to maintain peace and order in the district, he said, adding that strict action would be taken against offenders.
Mr Ibrahim said that since the administration had made necessary transport arrangements to people residing in remote areas on polling day, it was not necessary for candidates or political parties to engage in plying voters to the polling booths.
The eligible voters have a right to vote in the Lok Sabha elections on Thursday, only if their names are present in the voters list, and not otherwise. The electorates will be allowed to vote at their respective polling booths only if they hold a valid document such as EPIC card, Driving License, passport or a BLO slip provided by the district administration, he said.
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