Heavy police deployment to ensure peaceful municipal elections in Telangana

With the municipal election schedule now in place, Telangana police have rolled out extensive security arrangements, including large-scale deployment of personnel, check posts and armed flag marches, to ensure voters can cast their ballots without fear, Director General of Police B. Sivadhar Reddy said on Tuesday (January 27, 2026).

The DGP said the police machinery was fully prepared to conduct the elections in a peaceful and transparent manner. He noted that the announcement of the poll schedule had brought the election code of conduct into force across all municipal corporations and municipalities in the State, triggering intensified security and surveillance measures.

As part of the arrangements, check posts and flying squads have been activated to curb the distribution of illegal cash, liquor, drugs and other inducements. Officials have been instructed to verify the source of cash carried by individuals holding more than ₹50,000, ensure the immediate deposit of all licensed weapons and carry out special searches to detect and seize illegal arms. Recalling the recent Gram Panchayat elections, Mr. Reddy said as many as 1,800 weapons were surrendered at police stations during that exercise.

To instil confidence among voters, flag marches involving armed forces will be conducted in more than 1,000 sensitive and vulnerable locations across the State, the DGP said. In addition to local police, personnel from the Telangana State Special Police and other departments are being deployed, while around 2,000 staff from the Excise and Forest departments will also be pressed into service for election-related duties.

Appealing to voters, the DGP urged citizens to exercise their franchise freely and without yielding to inducements, assuring them that police personnel would remain on high alert to ensure calm and orderly elections.