Bhubaneswar: About 172 platoons of Special Armed Police and 69 companies of Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) will be deployed during the counting of votes in Odisha.
The counting of votes for 21 Lok Sabha seats and 146 Assembly seats will be taken up May 23 in 62 locations in the state with fool-proof security, Director General of Police R P Sharma said.
Sharma, who reviewed the security arrangement with the senior police officers through video conferencing, said Odisha Police, Odisha Special Armed Police, APR, OAPF, Home Guard and other Central Para Military Forces will be deployed during this counting process to avoid any disturbances and untoward incident.
The DGP extended congratulations to all SPs and their sub-ordinates officers and men for smooth conduct of election in the state. The election was held in the state in four phases and all the phases went-off peacefully barring some stray incidents, he said.
He asked the SPs to make fool-proof three tier security arrangement in the counting centres as per the guideline of ECI. The strong room with EVMs shall be guarded by CAPF while inner ring shall be guarded by State Armed Police and peripheral deployment by local district Police.
Sharma advised them to give their extra security requirements in terms of manpower latest by Sunday. The requirement should be placed before Additional DGP (Law & Order), he said.
At present 69 companies of CAPF have been deployed in different districts and they are now engaged in the strong room guarding.
Another 12 companies of CAPF are expected to reach the state shortly to manage the counting task.
The SPs were asked to open control rooms in the vicinity of counting centres equipped with VHF, PA system and other communication equipment.
The counting of votes this time may continue till late evening. In view of this, the DGP asked the SPs to make additional arrangement of light and drinking water for the public outside the counting centre premises.
The DGP discussed the manpower deployment plan for the counting centres. Proper barricading of counting centres as well as outside will be ensured to check massive public gathering.
It was decided that CCTV cameras will be installed both inside and outside the counting centres and provision of VHF and public address system will be made at each centre.
The SOG will be deployed in the counting centres in the Naxal-infested areas.