Drive against anti-social elements starts in Tirunelveli district to ensure free and fair polls

A meeting recently chaired by Collector and District Electoral Officer R. Sukumar has vowed to ensure smooth and peaceful polling in all five Assembly segments in Tirunelveli district during the upcoming Assembly elections.

Security arrangements are to be stepped out in sensitive polling stations and anti-social elements flushed out well ahead of the election.

As the sensitive polling stations have been categorised based on the past polling pattern, elaborate data on violent incidents took place in these places during local body, Assembly and Parliamentary elections, the troublemakers who triggered violence and his supporters involved in these aggression, their communal, political and financial backing, the number of policemen deployed there in the past, the post-poll repercussions, if any, etc. has been prepared for each sensitive polling station. The law-enforcers have been asked to follow closely these troublemakers and take appropriate action even before the start of poll process that would usually commence after formal election notification by the Election Commission.

The Police Inspectors concerned have been instructed to closely follow these unlawful individuals and immediately take appropriate legal action against them if they are found to be doing anything that would undermine law and order in their jurisdiction.

“There will be no space for troublemakers in the district, especially during elections. We are here to ensure free and fair elections with the active participation of all voters. If they (troublemakers) want to take part in the democratic process, they need to abide by law. Else, they will have to face consequences,” warns Dr. Sukumar.

In a separate meeting held recently with senior revenue and the police officials, Tirunelveli Corporation Commissioner and Returning Officer of Palayamkottai Assembly constituency Monika Rana asked the law-enforcers to prepare list of troublemakers from their jurisdiction.

The Inspectors of Police of Melapalayam, Palayamkottai, Perumalpuram and Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital police stations were asked to prepare comprehensive data on the troublemakers, their past history, their involvement in anti-social activities in Tirunelveli city and other areas, the cases pending against them, their present status – either behind bars or enlarged on bail, their exact location if out on bail etc. The officers were also asked to follow these anti-social elements and flush them out of the constituency, if necessary.

The police, on its part, has strengthened surveillance in the check-posts on the entry points of Tirunelveli city and the district bordering with Thoothukudi, Tenkasi and Kanniyakumari districts. Apart from ensuring round-the-clock manning of these check-posts, CCTV cameras have been installed to identify every vehicle entering or leaving the district.