JALANDHAR RURAL, PUNJAB — Security measures have been significantly enhanced across the rural areas of Jalandhar district as approximately 1,200 police personnel have been deployed to oversee the Municipal Council and Nagar Panchayat elections scheduled for Tuesday. The deployment aims to ensure a peaceful, fair, and smooth conduct of polling across over 100 designated stations.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that the extensive police presence is part of a comprehensive strategy to maintain law and order and prevent any untoward incidents during the electoral process. Continuous 24/7 surveillance is being maintained at all polling booths, with dedicated patrolling parties and a robust police presence remaining active throughout the duration of the polling.
To meticulously plan and execute these security arrangements, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Jalandhar Rural, Harvinder Singh Virk, convened a special meeting with all gazetted officers, Station House Officers (SHOs), and chowki incharges. The directive was clear: ensure the election process is conducted with the utmost integrity and efficiency.
In Jalandhar Rural, the police force will be responsible for managing 60 polling stations and 133 individual polling booths. A critical aspect of the security plan involves categorizing booths based on risk assessment. Fifty of these booths have been identified as sensitive, while three booths, all located in Nakodar, have been classified as hyper-sensitive, necessitating heightened security protocols.
The deployment strategy allocates between one and five police personnel to each booth, depending on its classification and assessed risk level. The distribution of booths across different premises, ranging from single-booth setups to multi-booth complexes, has also been factored into the deployment plan. Specifically, there are 11 single-booth premises, 34 double-booth premises, eight triple-booth premises, five quadruple-booth premises, and two penta-booth premises that will be secured.
Recognizing the potential for communal tensions or disturbances, special attention is being given to sensitive locations, including Gurdwaras, other religious places, and deras within Jalandhar Rural. Enhanced security arrangements have been put in place at these sites, with special patrolling teams continuously monitoring them to uphold peace and communal harmony.
During the preparatory meeting, detailed instructions were issued to all officers regarding the systematic conduct of elections and the stringent maintenance of law and order. The entire district has been placed on a high alert status in anticipation of the polling day activities. To further bolster the monitoring and control mechanisms, gazetted officers have been assigned specific responsibilities for the close oversight of their respective operational areas.
Proactive security measures are already underway across the district, including continuous flag marches, thorough anti-sabotage checks, detailed inspections of all polling booths, and round-the-clock naka (checkpoint) and checking operations. These measures are designed to deter any attempts at disruption or malpractice.
The Jalandhar Rural Police have actively appealed to all residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity, disputes, unlawful acts, or violations of election laws during the sensitive election period. Citizens are encouraged to utilize the 112 helpline for immediate emergency assistance or to provide crucial information.
To ensure rapid response capabilities, patrolling parties and Emergency Response Vehicle (ERV) teams have been kept on high alert and are prepared to attend to any emergency situation swiftly. SSP Harvinder Singh Virk stated that approximately 400 police personnel will be exclusively dedicated to manning the polling booths on election day, while separate teams will be engaged in patrolling and naka duties throughout the district. He also confirmed that four Superintendent of Police (SP)-rank officers and thirteen Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP)-rank officers are actively supervising the security arrangements. Additionally, reserve police personnel and specialized teams for securing strong rooms have also been designated to ensure the integrity of the vote counting process.
The elections cover five Municipal Councils—Nakodar, Kartarpur, Phillaur, Adampur, and Nurmahal—along with two Nagar Panchayats, Mehatpur and Lohian Khas. A total of 1,08,067 voters, comprising 54,943 men, 53,116 women, and eight voters registered under the ‘other’ category, are eligible to cast their ballots in these elections.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
