Over 3,100 cops to maintain law & order at 30 hypersensitive polling stations

Over 3,100 police personnel will man 30 hypersensitive polling stations and 164 sensitive polling stations in Patiala district. A total of 1,341 polling booths have been set up at 946 polling stations.

These details came to light as the Patiala police led by DIG Kuldeep Singh Chahal carried out a flag march during campaigning for the zila parishad and block samiti elections that ended here today.

DIG Chahal reiterated that the police would ensure that elections were held in a fair, transparent and peaceful manner.

The DIG mentioned that as per the instructions of the Punjab State Election Commission, additional security forces would be deployed at hypersensitive polling stations and sensitive polling stations identified by the civil administration and the police in the district.

He further informed that to prevent smuggling of illegal liquor, arms, narcotic substances, and the unlawful flow of cash to influence the elections from the neighbouring districts of Haryana bordering Patiala, 24-hour interstate joint checkpoints had been set up since December 12, in addition to patrolling and other necessary steps being undertaken.

He added that along with completing all security arrangements, nearly 3,100 police officers and personnel, including 207 non-gazetted officers, had been deployed for these elections. Additionally, all SPs and DSPs had been entrusted with the task of supervision across the entire district, the DIG said.

Earlier, the police force had assembled at Baran village on Sirhind Road and carried out the flag march in election-bound villages.