217 vulnerable stations in Ramanathapuram will be closely monitored, says SP

Over 3,000 police personnel deployed in Ramanathapuram district for polling stations security, with elaborate arrangements in place.

About 3,000 police personnel from Central Armed Police Force, Tamil Nadu Special Police, Home Guards and other agencies would be deployed in 800 locations covering 1,374 polling stations in Ramanathapuram district, said Superintendent of Police G. Chandeesh here on Thursday.

Speaking to media persons, he said that elaborate arrangements are in place for polling which starts at 7 a.m. on Friday (April 19). Public can go to the polling stations and cast their votes without fear as there are sufficient number of police force for protection. CCTV cameras and web cameras have been installed for close monitoring. The vulnerable pockets, which were identified in the past elections, would be manned by CAPF.

Returning Officer B. Vishnu Chandran, who conducted a review meeting in the presence of the General Observer and other senior officials, inspected a couple of polling stations.

Ramanathapuram Lok Sabha constituency has 16,17,688 voters in six Assembly segments. According to a press release, from March 16 to April 18, 72 Flying Squad Teams and 54 Static Surveillance Teams seized ₹79.48 lakh unaccounted cash. The teams had also seized ₹13.33 lakh- worth liquor bottles and banned tobacco goods and 614 cases were booked.

The teams seized 4,900 grams of gold jewellery worth ₹3.43 crore and deposited them with the authorities concerned, and 183 cases were booked for model code of conduct violations.

The Returning Officer and the General Observer inspected arrangements made at the polling stations and oversaw movement of polling materials to the respective stations.

In Theni, Returning Officer R.V. Shajeevana said that 96.5% of voters were given booth slips at their doorstep. Those who could not get them can cast their votes by producing a valid ID card.