900 security personnel deployed for EVMs

Jalandhar, May 21

Around 900 security personnel from the state police, Punjab Armed Police (PAP) and paramilitary forces have been deployed by the district administration to ensure complete protection of the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) stored in the strongroom at the Office of the Director, Land Records.

During a joint visit to all counting centres and the strongroom in the district for reviewing arrangements for the counting on May 23, Election Observer I Samuel Anand Kumar, DC Varinder Kumar Sharma, Commissioner of Police Gurpreet Singh Bhullar and SSP Navjot Singh Mahal said the outer security cover to the counting centres and strongrooms of each Assembly segment was being provided by 450 employees of the Punjab Police.

They said the second layer of security around the counting centres and the strongrooms was being provided by one platoon of the PAP for each Assembly segment. The inner security cover to strong rooms and counting centres was being provided by one platoon of the paramilitary forces deployed outside the strongrooms.

The officers said foolproof security arrangements had been made by the administration at these centres to ensure that the counting for the LS elections was held in a hassle-free manner.

The strongroom and the counting centre for Jalandhar North have been set up at Government Sports School and for Jalandhar West at Government Sports College. The strongrooms for Jalandhar Cantonment, Jalandhar Central, Adampur, Shahkot and Kartarpur Assembly constituencies have been constituted at the office of the Director, Land Records, whereas for Phillaur and Nakodar Assembly segments these have been set up at State Patwar School. — TNS