54 Companies of Para-Military Forces to be deployed for free, fair and peaceful elections: DC Thori
Jalandhar, February 18, 2022: Deputy Commissioner Ghanshyam Thori today said that 54 companies of Central Para Military Force would be deployed for free, fair, transparent and peaceful assembly polls in the district.
Divulging the details, the deputy commissioner said that a detailed police and security arrangement has been chalked out for deployment of a total of 54 companies of Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) across all nine assembly constituencies. Of these, 19 companies would be deployed in the city areas and 35 companies to be deployed at the rural locations.
The DC further mentioned that apart from these personnel from Punjab Police, Punjab Home Guards would also be deployed along with the central forces on February 20, 2022. He said that the elaborate police and security arrangements have been made by the Jalandhar Administration for holding of Assembly Elections 2022 in a peaceful and fair manner.
Thori said that there are a total 1975 polling booths falling in the jurisdiction of both Commissionerate and Jalandhar Rural Police and a special deployment plan has been prepared for the critical and sensitive booths.
The security of the area has been further strengthened with the joint deployment of CAPF and Punjab police personnel round-the-clock at various locations in the district besides patrolling parties of CAPF and Punjab Police personnel have been deployed to patrol the area, he said adding that preventive action has already been taken against the possible troublemakers.
Giving more details, he said that in the areas falling under the jurisdiction of Jalandhar Rural Police, there are 701 ordinary and 130 critical polling locations for which 352 Non-Gazetted Officers (NGOs), 481 Head Constables, 387 personnel of Punjab Home Guards would be deployed. Likewise, for all 325 critical and ordinary locations in urban locations as many as 2400 personnel of Punjab Police would be deployed along with central forces.
Thori further said that apart from force deployment, micro observers have been appointed to keep a close tab over the entire election procedure at booth level. The webcasting and CCTV monitoring would also be ensured at these locations, he said, adding that the primary motive of all these steps was to ensure that people could participate in this democratic process without any sort of fear or pressure.
Reiterating the firm commitment of the district administration to hold ensuing assembly polls peacefully, he said that anyone trying to disturb peace during the elections would be dealt strictly as per law. He also mentioned that no one would be allowed to take law into its own hands during the elections.