Delhi polls 2015: 55,000 cops to ensure free and fair elections

NEW DELHI: Delhi Police has made elaborate security arrangements for the February 7 polls. A three-tier security ring involving personnel from police, paramilitary forces and home guards will be thrown around the polling booths that have been identified as sensitive.
Over 55,000 personnel will be deployed to ensure a free and fair election in the city , said a senior police officer. Of this, 36,000 will be from Delhi Police and 11,000 from home guards. More than 120 companies of paramilitary forces will be involved in poll duty .

Personnel from traffic, PCR and other units like crime branch and special cell will also pitch in for election duty . All leaves have been cancelled, said an officer.

Though voting will take place from 8am to 6pm, the city will virtually turn into a fortress for 12 hours, the senior officer added.

“All necessary precautions have been taken to ensure free and fair elections,“ special commissioner of police (law and order) Deepak Mishra told TOI.

While Delhi Police personnel will be deployed at a distance of 200 metres from the booths, paramilitary forces will be at close quarters. Voters will have to pass through door-frame metal detectors.

“The polling booths which have been identified as critical and hypercritical will have three-layer security ,“ said a senior police officer.

No policemen will enter the polling booths or interact with the general public.While they have been ordered to extend all support to people, they should not be found chatting with politicians, media or voters.They will neither check voter identity cards nor frisk voters as there are designated people for the job, said an officer.

Police are keeping a tab on criminal elements and musclemen. A hawk-eyed vigil is being maintained at the border checkposts to prevent smuggling of liquor, illegal firearms and money .

“There will be heavy security on 40 nonmotorable and 105 motorable borders. Each vehicle or person crossing them on the polling day will be thoroughly checked. Over 100 pickets have been put up at border entry points to keep a tab on people coming to Delhi from other NCR areas like Ghaziabad, Noida, Faridabad and Gurgaon,“ said the police officer.

Each SHO will lead 2,000 personnel while each DCP has been given 600 personnel for patrolling duty . ACPs have been allotted 300 men for the same job. Police commissioner B S Bassi and special commissioner Deepak Mishra will be monitoring the situation from the headquarters and carry out random checks at regular intervals. Officers from the rank of joint commissioner onwards will also be on patrolling duty. The C4i, command centre for the CCTV cameras installed in the city , will be providing constant inputs to the two top officers.

Besides heavy deployment on the ground, there will be snipers and spotters who will keep a watch from high-rises.

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