Bhubaneswar: The Director General of Police in-charge BK Sharma Tuesday told reporters that adequate security measures have been made by Odisha police in Maoist-affected poll-bound districts of southern Odisha. He said the first phase of elections in the state which is scheduled to be held April 11 is Maoist-prone and ensuring an incident free polling in the area is a challenge for the state police.
“We have made a foolproof arrangement in the area as per the guidelines of the Election Commission of India and other regulations in force. Senior officers of the state police have been supervising the security arrangements,” the DGP in-charge said.
Sharma told reporters that police will work to create a conducive environment in the poll-bound areas so that voters can exercise their democratic rights in a free and fair manner without any fear.
However, he declined to divulge details of the companies of security forces and the sensitive polling booths in the area. He said every effort has been made by the state police to ensure a free and fair poll.
Earlier, a preparatory meeting on the security arrangements in poll-bound areas was organised at the DGP Camp office here Tuesday. Several intelligence officers of state police including senior cops briefed the DGP in-charge about the law and order situation and security force deployment in the southern part of the state, especially in Maoist areas.
Meanwhile, in view of the deadly Maoist attack on an election rally in Chhattisgarh which left five dead, all the 30 district superintendents of police in Odisha have been issued red alerts.
DGP in-charge Sharma has been personally overseeing the security arrangements in the Left Wing Extremist (LWE) affected districts. Politicians planning to go to Maoist-prone areas have been advised to inform police before planning their trips.