The Punjab CEO V.K. Singh today directed all the DEOs and District Police Chiefs to enhance vigil in last 48 crucial hours before the poll by laying sufficient nakas besides making more proactive the flying squads and static surveillance teams to respond immediately in case of any complaint to ensure free, fair and transparent elections in Punjab.Presiding over a meeting through video conferencing Mr. Singh pointed out that it was a litmus test for state election machinery especially the Field Officers to conduct smooth elections as with completion of 2/3rd polling in the country, the national as well as international media was set to throng Punjab keeping in view the high political stakes on certain parliamentary constituencies.He said that as per the directions of the ECI, the district police chiefs should ensure that all central paramilitary forces should be put on election duty be it on polling stations or on patrolling and it should not be kept in reserve. He said that with almost 2 lakh employees out of which approximately one each lakh from civil and security forces on polling duty, it becomes imperative to ensure the maximum voting of all eligible employees through postal ballots or election duty certificates. He said that ECI has categorically said that the major focus should be on maximum polling and the state election machinery has already committed the target of 80% polling. He said that the DEOs should take keen interest in ensuring good percentage of polling on 20 purely urban assembly constituencies and a unique SMS service has already been launched for these to check the length of line of voters on the polling booths of these constituencies. He said that wherever any body finds offering liquor/money to voters, a FIR should be registered immediately. He said that the DEOs should ask the candidates to ensure departure of their supporters from outside the constituency besides getting checked the hotels, guest houses and inns.
He said that the DEOs should ensure that on every polling booth, the mock poll should be conducted on time and the presiding officers must be sensitized to ensure erasing data to avoid any complication. He said that private security guards could be put on duties like manning queues or on gates of the polling stations but they shouldn’t be put on law and order duty. He cautioned them to be more alert to check any paid news and asked to make more proactive the media certification and monitoring committees. He said that DEOs should also take care of food arrangements for polling staff so that they shouldn’t face any difficulty in discharging their duties diligently.Speaking on the occasion Mr. C.S.R Reddy, Additional DGP (Elections) briefed the field police officers to use central paramilitary forces strictly for polling/patrolling duty besides ensuring the sealing of malkhanas 48 hours well before the polling. He said that the police personnel accompanying polling parties after reaching the destination should put nakas nearby roads to check any unscrupulous elements. He said that to ensure the immediate response the police reserves should be placed strategically. He asked all field police offices right from the Chauki in charge to district police chief to remain mobile. He also said that all the 135 interstate points have been identified and would be sealed thoroughly with the help of neighboring states’ police. He said that a company of central paramilitary forces comprises 91 personnel and the district police shouldn’t accept in any case a company less than 81 persons. He said that all the field officers must have public address system in their vehicles.Mr. Raminder Singh, Mr. B. Purushartha and Mr. Supreet Singh Gulati, all Additional CEOs, Mr. Arpit Shukla, IGP (Elections), Mr. Shivdular Singh Dhillon, Additional ETC and Mr. Amit Talwar, Joint CEO were also present in the video conferencing.