Away from home for months, paramilitary forces do their bit

Tribune News Service

Aparna Banerji

Phagwara/Phillaur, Feb 20

They patiently waited for their staff to be free as they awaited their return in buses outside dispatch centres on Saturday. Today, they stood vigil at the polling booths as people cast their votes peacefully. After the votes are polled, they will stand guard outside strong rooms, protecting the electorate’s vote.

Fiftyfour companies of the CAPF (roughly over 4,000) and 20,000 civil and police staff made it possible for lakhs of voters to cast their votes peacefully in Jalandhar. (Each CAPS company has about 72 to 80 staff members).

The district administration had made elaborate security arrangements for polling and around 10,000 civil personnel, over 9,000 police personnel, and 54 companies of central forces were deployed for smooth and hassle-free conduct of polling at all the 1,975 polling booths.

The mammoth feat was possible primarily due to security staff who came in from across the country and the state to make the elections a peaceful process. Thousands of CAPF personnel from J&K, West Bengal, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and others states were deputed in the state for polling and some of whom have not even visited home even once in months.

Many of the state-based police personnel have also left their homes at least a week ago, to do their bit for the process of making the poll a success.

A CAPF personnel, hailing from Assam who had been on duty for the Amarnath Yatra, said, “We stand guard here, we stand guard there. It’s the same for us. It is my first elections in Punjab and I’m happy to do my bit. We have been awake since yesterday morning, slept a bit at night and have been up against early today for the mock polls. It is an enriching experience.”

A cop, originally based in Ludhiana, has also been on poll duties for weeks.

Deputed since the Prime Minister’s rally in Jalandhar, he was later a member of the reserve force to be deputed for various pre-poll political and other events. He stood guard during Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal’s visit to Jalandhar.

He has been guarding a booth since yesterday.

“I have been out of home for a week now. Families were told in advance. Now we will guard strong rooms. It is our job,” he said.

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