To maintain peace and law and order during the Municipal Council and Nagar Panchayat elections in rural areas of Jalandhar, the police have deployed around 1,200 personnel across more than 100 polling stations to ensure peaceful and smooth conduct of polling on Tuesday.
In view of the elections, 24×7 surveillance is being maintained at polling booths across different parts of the district to prevent any untoward incident. Patrolling parties and heavy police deployment will also remain in place throughout the polling process.
Ahead of the elections, Jalandhar Rural SSP Harvinder Singh Virk convened a special meeting with all gazetted officers, SHOs and chowki incharges to ensure that the election process is conducted peacefully, fairly, transparently and smoothly.
In Jalandhar Rural, the police will man 60 polling stations and 133 polling booths. Of these, 50 booths have been declared sensitive, while three booths — all located in Nakodar — have been categorised as hyper-sensitive. Between one and five police personnel will be deployed at each booth.
Among the 133 booths, 11 are single-booth premises, 34 are double-booth premises, eight are triple-booth premises, five are quadruple-booth premises and two are penta-booth premises.
Gurdwaras, other religious places and deras in Jalandhar Rural have also been categorised as sensitive locations, and additional security arrangements have been made there. Special patrolling teams are continuously monitoring these places to ensure peace and communal harmony.
During the meeting, detailed instructions were issued to all officers regarding maintenance of law and order and the systematic conduct of the elections. The district has been placed on high alert in view of the polling process.
To further strengthen arrangements, gazetted officers have been assigned responsibility for close monitoring of their respective areas. Continuous flag marches, anti-sabotage checks, inspection of polling booths and round-the-clock naka/checking operations are being carried out across the district.
The Jalandhar Rural Police appealed to residents to immediately report any suspicious activity, dispute, unlawful act or violation of law during the election period. Citizens can contact the 112 helpline for emergency assistance or information.
Patrolling parties and Emergency Response Vehicle (ERV) teams have been kept active round the clock and are prepared to respond swiftly to any emergency situation.
SSP Harvinder Singh Virk said around 400 police personnel would specifically man polling booths on election day, while separate teams would remain deployed for patrolling and naka duties. He added that four SP-rank officers and 13 DSP-rank officers were supervising the arrangements, while reserve police personnel and security teams for strong rooms had also been designated to ensure smooth conduct of the elections.
Over 1.08 lakh voters to cast votes in seven civic bodies across Jalandhar district
Notably, five Municipal Councils — Nakodar, Kartarpur, Phillaur, Adampur and Nurmahal — and two Nagar Panchayats — Mehatpur and Lohian Khas — in Jalandhar district will go to polls on May 26.
A total of 1,08,067 voters, including 54,943 men, 53,116 women and eight voters in the “other” category, will exercise their franchise in the Municipal Council and Nagar Panchayat elections in the district.
