Loksabha polls 2019:Karnataka Police Gears Up and on their Toes with Watertight Security,90K Cops to Vigil,

“Come without fear and caste your vote :Neelamani N Raju”.

Appeal to all the citizens of Karnataka state and Bengaluru city to come in large number and caste their vote we have made adequate security arrangements so feel free to come and vote as other state we want our Karnataka states voting percentage to increase as everyone should feel proud of our Karnataka state.

Highlights :

* The Police Department has identified 11,992 booths as ‘critical’ and extra security forces have been deployed in these areas. This includes security personnel from the Centre.

* The Karnataka state police have made elaborate security arrangements for the polling to Lok Sabha elections scheduled for April 18 in the state. As many as 90,997 police personnel will be deployed across the state at all polling booths.

* “City gears up with heavy security cover ahead of loksabha elections.

* 90,997-Police Personnel, 58,225-Election Booths,11,992-Booths are critical,49476-Civil police,40,117-Home Guards and Civil Defence Personnel,414-Jail Wardens and 990 forest Guards,10-Coys of Central Armed Forces (CAPF),were provided to the state of which 5 were deployed in phase -1 and phase -2 areas,44,884 cases were invoked under preventive sections against 47,427 persons,98,055 licensed arms in the state 95,422 have been deposited with police rest with district authorities.

* first time Ola and Uber cab aggregators are appointed to pick and drop disability and blind people for their respective polling booths.We have booked the cabs for them according to their convenient time.

* Wheel chairs will be available and scouts and guides students will be to take care of the senior Citizens and disability people they will be taking them to polling stations to caste their vote.

* Those of you heading to voting booths in Bengaluru on April 18, keep this in mind: Mobile phones will not be allowed within a 100-metre radius of polling stations across Bengaluru. If any voter is found carrying mobile phone inside the booth, they will be sent back.

The Karnataka state police with Bengaluru city police have made elaborate security arrangements for the fair and fearless polling to Lok Sabha elections scheduled for April 18 in the state. As many as 90,997 police personnel will be deployed across the state at all polling booths.

Karnataka,DG&IGP,Smt.Neelamani N Raju with ADGP Law And Order Kamal Pant,R.Hitendra,IGP,Kuldeep,Lokesh was present at the press conference held at Nrupathunga road in view of loksabha elections 2019.

As per the aforesaid schedule,elections to 28 parliamentary constituencies of Karnataka are being conducted in two phases i.e.on 18-4-2019 and 23-4-2019.During this period it is the utmost duty of karnataka state police and Bengaluru city police to ensure free and fearless atmosphere for elections.

Neelamani.N.Raju,DG&IGP,of karnataka told media persons that,We have made comprehensive preparations for peaceful conduct of elections to the 17th loksabha.

In order to make necessary arrangements for elections coordinate deployment of CAPF and send timely reports to Election Commission,Nodal officers were nominated in Police chief office and the districts.

Extensive deployment has been made to instil confidence among the voters.

From the day of notification,10 Coys of CAPF were provided to the state.Out of which 5 each were deployed in Phase-1 and Phase -2 areas.

Along with the CAPF Coys KSRP platoons and local police have conducted flag marches in sensitive and vulnerable areas.Senior officers like Commissioners,Addl CPs, DCPs,Superintendents of police,Inspector Generals of police also participated in flag marches,in some places even District Electoral Officers,i.e.Deputy commissioners also joined the flag marches.Besides armed pickets were also posted in sensitive localities and crowded places.

55 and 57 companies of Central Armed Police Forces for phase -A and phase- B respectively are being deployed at critical cluster booths and area domination in vulnerable areas been done.

To curb illegal activities and check violation of model code of conduct and prevent malpractice to influence the voters joint flying squads and static surveillance teams have been set up in all the districts they have been provided with Police personnel .

In Phase -1 and Phase -2 totally 1743 Static surveillance team and flying squad were deployed with 4103 Police personnel.

Out of 98055 licensed arms in the state,95422 have been deposited with police as part of the preventive action and rest is exempted by the district authorities.

In order to keep the bad elements rowdies and trouble makers under check 44844,cases under preventive sections have been invoked against 47427 persons besides 12621 persons were identified as intimidators.

1594 cases have been booked under karnataka excise act with total seizures of 11220 litres of liquor by the police.

More than 15 Crores cash,23248,litres of liquor,3.12 kgs of Gold,43.85 kgs of silver along with other items worth Rs.38 lakhs have been seized by static check posts.Based on complaints by SSTs a total of 55 FIRs are registered by the jurisdictional Police and 1697 FIRs have been registered related to seizures.

There are 58225 booths in the state as per the prescribed scale totally 90997 officers and men were required since the state had only 49476 Civil police available for poll duty services of Home Guards,Civil Defence personnel,jail warders and forest guards watchers are also being utilized for the poll duty bandobust.

Forces deployed for the phase -1 and 2 are as,CAPF Coys for strong rooms -10,CAPF half sections deployed on cluster and critical booths -1792,Striking parties for maintenance of law and order- KSRP-282 Platoons,CAR/DAR-692 Platoons will be deployed with Dy.Suprentident of police – 282,Police Inspectors -851,Police Sub-inspectors -1188,ASIs-4205,Head Constables-42950,Home Guards/Civil Defence – 40117,Jail Warders -990,Forest guard /watchers -414 totally 90997 police personnel with all senior officers will be deployed.

DG&IGP,of Karnataka,Smt.Neelamani.N.Raju,told media persons that,Last time assembly elections also we had same police team this time also we have same police team to conduct Loksabha Elections.We have appointed nodal officers as per directions by Election Commission Of India,Kamal Pant,ADGP,Law and order who is the nodal officer for conducting elections with the Election Commission of India,R.Hitendra,IGP,who is the nodal officer for expenditure monitoring,Kuldeep,who is a Commandant of 9th KSRP batallion is the nodal officer for deployment of Armed Forces both from the state and with in the state as well as the Armed Forces which are coming from government of India,Lokesh SP, will be helping hand in the entire election cell he is heading the election cell.As you all know the election was announced on 10th March 2019 after which as per Election Commission of India guidelines we have done election cell for this we have appointed nodal officers.Kamal Pant will take care and monitor entire election as he has more experience and he is even a expert in maintaining law and order situation.Last year we had assembly elections in 1 phase but this year loksabha elections will be conducted in three phases because all over India central forces requirement is more due to which this time two phase election has been announced in Karnataka for this we are getting less central forces but also we are deploying the forces peacefully with the two phase of elections we are benefited for our internal things.On 18th and 23rd if you see for all India it will be 2nd and 3rd phase as you all know Karnataka is a Peaceful state.Compare to various states there is no Anti-national,terrorism or nodal attacks have taken place in Karnataka.We have no problem we have naxal effected districts but this time there is no naxalism activities took place from last 7 to 8 years it is in full control.As Karnataka has been free from naxal activities for last eight years.last year there were some sightings of Naxals in the districts of chikkamagaluru,Udupi,and Kodagu but no untoward incident of any type was reported from anywhere besides till date no posters,pamphlets statements public meetings against process have come to notice.However in Malnad areas and around the Tri-junction of Karnataka Tamilnadu and Kerala for the purpose of area domination daily combing operations,night patrolling etc are undertaken on regular basis.The election bandobust in such areas is being made by deploying additional men at such booths besides patrolling in these areas would also be intensified.After election announced in the preparation time only almost 10 central companies have come and Election Commission of India has issued guidelines and instructions through Video Conference this year they dint come to karnataka through video conference we have also done a adequate deployment the election commission satisfied and was happy.There also have been raids on Anti-social elements there have been seizures of unlicensed weapons and licensed weapons also been taken care.More than 15 Crores cash with some Gold and Silver with quantity of liquors has been seized 90,000 police personnel will be deployed and we have sent our officers and staff to Telangana now they all are back and we have no problem in forces.This time we have done postal ballot arrangements also been done because the forces who are deployed outside they are not able to vote so almost 80,000 postal ballots have been distributed all KSRP,Civil police forces Home Guards have caste their vote through postal ballot.Things are going quite well in certain sensitive constituency we have made special arrangements so that there is no violence and I am happy to say that all over the state there has been very peaceful campaigning.Expect from 2 to 3 small cases no violence took place for this we are extremely happy and satisfied.There has been PM visits as Prime Minister of India has come several times with other dignitaries have also come and are still coming we have made all adequate arrangements for their visits.Election commissioner conducted a meeting for the observers and they have expressed their happiness with the arrangements made by Karnataka Police.When asked about Mandya constituency Neelamani Raju said there is no violent incident took place in Mandya as a constituency it is a sensitive constituency because it is a high profile constituency as lot of dignitaries are going there for elections and campaigning.When reporters asked recently the income tax department has forwarded a complaint to election commission and the election commission has forwarded to your office regarding the protest which has happened in front of income tax office by Chief Minister and other leaders.Neelamani Raju said,Ya one case was taken up for MCC violation then they have also given complaint that the income tax authorities were feeling threatened for intimidation and all for this we have taken a case and it is under investigation we have booked them under 504&506 sections as unlawful assembly and violation of model code of conduct because they have not taken permission to held a protest.When asked about the raid conducted at Prabhat Complex last night she said we dint find any fake voter id cards Ibrahim Khaleelulla is alleged to be from congress party it is matter under investigation the raid was conducted on the information received by ARO and they have done the raid everything so once the election machine itself I really do not know it is too prematured to comment on this issue we have given assistance to ARO,Assistant retaining officer and yesterday we have registered a case under NCR and after seeking permission from the fifth ACMM Court a FIR has been registered in upparpet police station against 14 persons and 10 computers,scanning machine,Hand printers,Printers,Chargers,and other equipments has been seized all 14 accused are taken into custody to ascertain more details Khaleelulla is a National Secreatery of youth congress.Parties are also acting responsibly it is not that as if they are out on war.When asked CM has threatened the journalists for this Neelamani Raju said it is a speeches various kind of speeches during elections are given by party members and leaders where it invites any criminal action or not it is a matter of opinion in which one supporter has seeked us we need a journalist protection we have issued a circular and instructed all the officers to give protection for journalists DC our DEO is looking and there is a media monitoring cell also they are looking into it and it is under investigation if they think if the offence is committed they will ask the police to register a case.when reporters asked is the loksabha polls is a challenging task for Karnataka state police,She said it is not a challenging task or anything it is our regular policing all that if some places it is more difficult we gave them much more resources and in Phase B and once the phase B becomes active right now only phase A is active and once the campaigning get over their and all the prominent leaders will move towards phase B constituencies there would be security challenges on the day of polling regular security challenges are there and we are geared up for that I don’t say it is less or more even here I don’t think we are kind of extremely under pressure for anything she added.

Kamal Pant,ADGP,Law and order told media persons,based on our experience from last 20-25 days I can say that we are in full control of the situation.It is very peaceful there in Mandya there is no disruption in normal life there election campaigning is happening in each and every corner of the districts let anybody point out that ABC are been prevented from going to so and so locality.There is no such case and campaigning is happening and such hyper situation have happened in past in different different constituencies every election has its own priority constituency so some issues have been raised so we have adequately answered those issues and we have addressed those issues.Security has been given to individuals also and general security is there in the area and we have already taken certain measures ensure that with absolute confidence on the system.And we have taken so many concrete measures we have held flag marches every day across state pickets are posted single officers are almost camping there we have strengthened the supervising system by zonal level officer also in confident of taking action we have sent people from outside the districts we have sent around 700 people 700 police personnel from outside Mandya so this much of measures we have taken must say we must appreciate the people of Mandya police officers and and even we should thank both the parties for peaceful campaigning he added.