EVMs to be moved to counting centre amidst tight security

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, May 25

The Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and the VVPAT Machines will be transported to Jalandhar from Shahkot after polling is over on May 28 amidst a tight security cover to be provided by the Border Security Force (BSF), Punjab Police and Punjab Armed Police.

Deputy Commissioner Varinder Kumar Sharma and Senior Superintendent of Police Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, who visited the strongroom-cum-dispatch and receiving centre of EVMs here today said the district administration would ensure foolproof security cover during the transportation of these machines to the counting centre located in Jalandhar from Shahkot. They said more than 50 security personnel from the BSF, along with the necessary force from the local police, would be deployed for this work. They said that six companies of the BSF had already arrived in Shahkot for ensuring a free and fair poll in the Assembly segment.

The DC and SSP said these companies would be deployed at 96 vulnerable polling booths identified by the district administration. They said prior to the polling day, the paramilitary force had been deployed in the city to keep a strict vigil over the law and order situation along with Special flying squads, Static Surveillance teams and mobile patrolling teams. Both officials also briefed the paramilitary force officials about their duty during the poll.

Meanwhile, officials said that 54 routes had been identified for the polling parties that have to be deputed on the polling day. They reiterated that polling parties would be given the EVMs and VVPATs on May 27 and then around 2,400 staff comprising the polling parties would be ferried to the 236 polling stations at 189 locations in more than 50 buses. Likewise, they said that the same polling parties would come back to the strongroom after polling was over to hand over the machines, after which these would be transported to the counting centre in Jalandhar amidst a tight security cover.