Central forces only if necessary: SSP

PUDUCHERRY: The services of the Central para-military forces during the Indira Nagar by elections would be sought “if necessary,” said SSP(L&O) V J Chandran. He was addressing a press conference along with district election officer and collector Dr S B Deepak Kumar here on Tuesday.Speaking in connection with the AIADMK Puducherry unit secretary A Anbazhagan’s demand for deploying Central paramilitary forces to ensure free and fair polling, he said assessment of the constituency was still on and two polling booths out of the 27 had been identified as vulnerable.  The SSP said that police had so far booked 70 persons under preventive sections and that they had been released after submitting personal bonds. The activities of the history sheeters were being monitored and vehicles crossing borders were being checked for money, liquor and arms, which may be used for influencing voters or unleashing violence, he said.Chandran said  100 persons had deposited their licensed arms in view of the by-elections and the rest had been requested to deposit their arms with the police till the election was over.He said that N Periyasamy, inspector of police, had been nominated as the nodal officer to the returning officer.Election ArrangementsDistrict election officer and district collector Dr S B Deepak Kumar said  arrangements had been made for the free and fair conduct of by-election to the Indira Nagar constituency, slated to be held on October 13.Addressing reporters here on Tuesday, he said two flying squads have been formed exclusively for the Indira Nagar constituency and taluk level flying squad has been constituted under the leadership of one executive magistrate. He added that the existing excise squads of excise department would be utilised to check the illegal movement of liquor.The DEO revealed that Kumar Sanjay, an Indian Revenue Service officer, has been appointed as the expenditure observer by the EC and he could be contacted on 0413-2277260.On the complaints about the distribution of cheques by government after code of conduct came into being, the DEO said the complaints had been examined and it was found that there was no violation of code.Deepak Kumar said the electoral rolls of the constituency would be frozen on the last day of filing nominations, September 26. The voters could enrol their names till that day and the voters slips would be distributed through the booth level officers (BLOs) from October 5 to 8.The SDM north was in-charge of randomisation of EVMs and first level randomisation of EVMs would be done on Sept 21 in the presence of representatives of national/state level recognised political parties. The second level randomisation would be done by the returning officer before the preparation of EVMs.Around 70 personnel have been deployed for poll duty and a training for political parties on maintenance of poll accounts would be held on September 22, said Deepak. A round-the- clock call centre would function at the election department with toll free number 1950.