Date:10/05/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/05/10/stories/2004051002680300.htm

Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore

EVMs shifted with police escort

By Our Staff Reporter

COIMBATORE, MAY 9. Polling materials were despatched to all the polling stations with armed police escort from the strong room at the Government College of Technology on Thadagam Road in the city.

The materials were despatched to the polling stations coming under the three Assembly segments of the Nilgiris Lok Sabha constituency and six Assembly segments in Coimbatore under the direct supervision of the District Election Officer, N. Muruganandam.

A total of 7,74,861 voters (3,85,897 male and 3,88,964 female voters) in Mettuppalayam, Thondamuthur and Avanashi Assembly segments coming under the Nilgiris Lok Sabha constituency, 15,83,886 voters (7,96,499 male and 7,87,387 female voters) in Coimbatore parliamentary constituency and 10,39,029 voters (5,10,924 male and 5,28,105 female voters) in the Pollachi (Reserved) parliamentary constituency are expected to exercise their franchise.

A strike force with 80 personnel from the Special Task Force (Sathyamangalam) led by the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Sundarrajan, would be in charge of bandobust for the polling stations in hill areas.

The polling stations to come under STF security cover are in Perur, Thondamuthur and Mettuppalayam Assembly segments. This includes Thondamuthur, Irutupallam, Alandurai, Madukkarai, Mavuthampathy, Pilloor dam, Lingapuram, Sirumugai and Mettuppalayam.

The Collector said today that 3,500 Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) would be despatched to the polling stations by Sunday afternoon through the 260 zonal officers with police escort. These zonal polling teams have been provided with mobile phones for easy and instant communication to handle any situation.

The Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order), S. Rajendran, said that elaborate security arrangements had been made in about 510 polling stations on the polling day under the direct supervision of Commissioner of Police, Coimbatore city, Sanjay Arora.

A total of 1,700 men were being deployed. In Coimbatore Rural District, security personnel would focus on sensitive pockets like Podanur, Pollachi, Tirupur and Mettuppalayam, the Superintendent of Police, Coimbatore Rural District, R. Dhinakaran, said.

The services of personnel from Armed Reserve, Tamil Nadu Special Police Battalion, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Rapid Action Force (RAF), Home Guards, Forest and Fire Service were being availed.

A Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) was being made in-charge of every Assembly constituency. Three DCPs would be in charge of Singanallur, Coimbatore West and East and every DCP would be assisted by two Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACPs).

Every police station jurisdiction has been brought under the control of two police inspectors. All police stations would have a standby strike force ready under the supervision of an Inspector of Police.

Forty mobile patrol vehicles would be doing rounds of polling stations at frequent intervals.

For any complaints relating to polling, public could call the returning officer for Coimbatore constituency at 95-422-2301320 (fax-2216630) and the returning officer-Pollachi at 2300035. The District Election Cell could be contacted at 2301523 or 2301114 (extension 55) or complaints could be faxed to 95-422-2301523.

The helpline number for elections is 2307100 and complaints can be sent to deocbe@sancharnet.in. The Personal Assistant to Collector (Elections) could be contacted at 2307080, a Collectorate press release said.