Telangana DGP Unveils Comprehensive Security Blueprint for Municipal Elections
In a detailed briefing on Tuesday, Director General of Police (DGP) Shivadhar Reddy outlined the extensive security arrangements implemented to ensure the smooth and peaceful conduct of municipal elections across Telangana. Notably, these measures exclude Hyderabad, where the model code of conduct (MCC) is not currently in force.
Model Code of Conduct and Polling Station Categorization
The MCC has been actively enforced since January 27 in all districts of the state except Hyderabad. This follows the official announcement of elections for seven municipal corporations and 116 municipalities. A total of 8,203 polling stations have been established, with authorities categorizing them based on security risk:
- 1,302 hypersensitive stations
- 1,926 sensitive stations
- 4,975 normal stations
Deployment of Personnel and Technological Monitoring
DGP Reddy emphasized that the election code has been rigorously implemented throughout Telangana. To bolster law and order, additional forces have been strategically deployed. Approximately 3,000 personnel from various government departments have been mobilized exclusively for election duties, supplementing the regular police force.
A key technological initiative is the implementation of 100% webcasting at all polling stations. This measure is designed to ensure transparency and enable real-time monitoring of the electoral process, providing an additional layer of security and accountability.
Preventive Measures and Enforcement Actions
Urging citizens to exercise their franchise freely and without apprehension, the DGP detailed the extensive preventive and enforcement actions taken prior to polling. As part of the election security protocol, law enforcement agencies have undertaken significant steps:
- Seizure of 1,183 licensed firearms
- Binding over 4,318 individuals to maintain peace
- Execution of 398 non-bailable warrants
Border Check-Posts and Seizure Statistics
To prevent the illicit movement of cash and other inducements, authorities have established a network of check-posts. Twenty check-posts operate along the borders with four neighboring states, while an additional 55 check-posts are functional across various districts within Telangana. Complementing these static posts, 181 flying squads have been deployed for rapid response and monitoring.
The DGP reported that, as of Tuesday, authorities have seized assets worth ₹3.09 crore and registered 142 cases related to MCC violations. The breakdown of these seizures includes:
- Cash: ₹1.29 crore
- Liquor: ₹1.21 crore
- Drugs: ₹15.7 lakh
- Freebies: ₹13 lakh
- Precious metals: ₹28.6 lakh
Training Programs and Clarification on Forensic Lab Fire
To ensure the effective implementation of the MCC, comprehensive training programs have been conducted across Telangana. These sessions targeted officials at multiple levels, including Station House Officers, circle, division, and unit personnel.
Addressing recent developments, DGP Reddy referenced the fire accident at the State Forensic Science Laboratory. He dismissed allegations that evidence from a sensational 2015 case was destroyed in the blaze, clarifying that all pertinent evidence had been submitted to the court in 2021. An investigation into the fire's cause is currently underway, involving experts from the Central Forensic Science Laboratory in Pune, the National Institute of Fire Safety Engineering in Nagpur, and the state FSL. Technical specialists are actively engaged in retrieving and analyzing digital data from the affected systems.
