BSF put on duty for Shahkot bypoll

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, May 17

To ensure peaceful and fair polling during the coming Shahkot byelection, six companies of paramilitary forces would be deployed at the polling booths on May 28.

A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting to review the security arrangements for the poll chaired by General Observer Ravi Kant Jain, Deputy Commissioner Varinder Kumar Sharma and Senior Superintendent of Police Gurpreet Singh Bhullar at the local Circuit House.

During the meeting, it was decided that six companies of the Border Security Force (BSF) would be deployed at the polling booths along with the state police. These six companies of the paramilitary forces would reach Shahkot on May 20 and ensure foolproof security arrangements for the polls. The paramilitary force would also be assisted by the police in maintaining law and order in the poll-bound Assembly segment.

Besides, six static surveillance teams and three flying squad teams have been constituted for keeping a strict vigil over the law and order situation in the segment.

Likewise, it was decided that at around 100 locations, webcasting would be done by the Election Commission to keep a strict vigil over the entire election process. It was decided that around 50 micro-observers would be deployed on the poll day. Every polling booth would be covered either by paramilitary force or through web casting or by micro observers for free and fair poll.

Meanwhile, during the meeting, the officials discussed the deployment plan of the security forces and the poll staff on the election day. It was decided that special training would also be imparted to the micro-observers before the poll.

Prominent amongst others present on the occasion included Expenditure Observer Subash Chander Meena, Additional Deputy Commissioner Jasbir Singh, Sub-Divisional Magistrate Jasjit Singh, Deputy Superintendent of Police Balwinder Iqbal Singh Kahlon and others.