Security measures in place for fair, free polling in Munugode: Mahesh Bhagwat

HYDERABAD: Rachakonda police commissioner Mahesh Bhagwat said on Wednesday that foolproof security measures have been taken to ensure fair and free polling in the Munugode Assembly constituency bye-election on November 3,2022.

Rachakonda commissioner Mahesh Bhagwat gave a briefing session on Wednesday for police forces deployed for the Munugode Assembly constituency bye-election, which is scheduled for November 3, 2022. He assessed the bandobust security arrangements and directed officials not to leave any room for unpleasant incidents until the polls closed.

Speaking to the media, Mahesh Bhagwat stated that foolproof security measures have been prepared for the Munugode bye-election, and Rachakonda Police Commissionerate is taking the utmost care and offering help and cooperation to the Election authorities in order to finish the election effectively.

Bhagwat stated that the Rachakonda Police Commissionerate has jurisdiction over the Munugode assembly constituency's Choutuppal and Narayanpur mandals. The mandals of Choutuppal and Narayanpur have 82 polling locations and 122 of the total 298 polling stations. He stated that security has been beefed up in the crucial polling areas identified, and that six companies of Central Armed Police Forces have been deployed across the polling locations.

In addition to the Rachakonda police teams, teams from the Central Armed Police Forces (CRPF, CISF, and RAF) are being deployed, and that route mobile striking forces, special striking forces, special surveillance teams, and flying squad teams will continue to work said Mahesh Bhagwat.

He stated that the Rachakonda Police Commissionerate has established a dedicated control room to monitor security at polling places and has also directed staff to reinforce security at 16 polling locations and 35 polling stations deemed as critical.

"Police teams are conducting vehicle checking drives at border check points around the clock, and around Rs 4 Crores in cash, 1000 litres of liquor, 3.5 KGs of gold, and 11.5KGs of ganja have been confiscated so far during vehicle inspections," Bhagwat added. He also stated that liquor stores will be closed from November 1, 2022 at 6 p.m. to November 3, 2022 at 6 p.m., and that anyone involved in the illegal sale and supply of liquor on election day will be prosecuted.

"Dedicated IT teams have also been established to take live telecasts of the situation at any moment, before and during polling at all polling stations in the Choutuppal and Narayanpur mandals. We held a demonstration session and evaluated the arrangements made at all voting stations in the Choutuppal and Narayanpur mandals "Bhagwat explained.

Mahesh Bhagwat further warned that mobile phones are prohibited on polling station premises, and that taking photographs and sharing the information to whom they have voted on social media platforms will be punished. He encouraged citizens to use their right to vote and urged the cooperation of citizens and political parties in order to conclude the elections peacefully.