Date:06/10/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/10/06/stories/2006100613910100.htm

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"No move to postpone final phase of polls"

C. Jaishankar

K.S. Muthuswamy holds meeting with Collectors, police officials

GROUNDWORK: Collectors and Superintendents of Police of five districts at a meeting in Ramanathapuram on Thursday.

Staff Reporter

RAMANATHAPURAM: There is no move to postpone the final phase of the local body elections in the southern districts of Tamil Nadu in view of security concerns over the Thevar `guru puja' on October 30, Collector K.S. Muthuswamy has said.

He was speaking to presspersons here on Thursday after presiding over a meeting attended by Collectors and Police Superintendents of five southern districts. The meet discussed preliminary measures to conduct the puja peacefully.

"Though the final process of the local body elections is slated for the last week of October, we have ample time to study the situation and make necessary changes," Mr. Muthuswamy said.

As a precautionary measure, the Mandapam refugee camp would be closed for three days from October 27. No one would be allowed to go out of the camp. Inmates from other districts would be monitored. Police officers concerned would be informed about the need to monitor the refugees.

Mr. Singh said that officers, who had the experience of working in the district, would be called for security. A comprehensive security scheme would be prepared to conduct the puja peacefully. Corrective measures would be taken based on previous years' experience.

Mr. Thirugnanam said that nearly 5,000 policemen would be involved in the security. All the vehicles coming to the puja from other districts should get permission from the authorities concerned. No one would be allowed to raise provocative slogans and inflammatory statements should not be written on the walls.