Mangaluru: Deputy Commissioner A B Ibrahim and SP Dr Sharanappa jointly held a press meet at the DC’s Office here, on May 27.
Addressing the mediapersons, A B Ibrahim said that dry day has been declared in rural areas from the night of May 28 for 24 hours. Also, May 29 has been declared as a holiday in Rural areas as the election process will go on in all the areas.
“Mustering and D-mustering centers have been set up in 5 places: Padua Educational Institution (Mangaluru), Infant Jesus English Medium School Modankapu (Bantwal), SDM PU College (Ujire, Beltangady), Vivekananda College (Puttur) and Nehru Memorial (Sullia). Voting has been made compulsory, the district police are always doing a good job during the elections. We have taken all measures for the smooth functioning of the elections. People have also whole heartedly supported the elections.”
Speaking on the occasion DCP Vishnuverdhan said, “From the city point of view, in 9 police station limits there are 336 polling booths of which 51 are hyper-sensitive, 154 sensitive and 161 normal. 59 sector mobiles have been installed, 20 CCTV cameras have been installed in 94 cluster booths. 2 KSRP platoons have already arrived. We have deployed 14 Police inspectors, 59 Police sub inspectors, 18 Assistant Sub inspector, 264 Head constables, 220 home guards and 4 ACPs.”
SP Dr Sharanappa said, “Our objective for the elections is that the elections should go on smoothly in the entire district and every candidate should follow the election code of conduct. We are very closely monitoring the canvasing. There are 880 polling booths and we have identified 65 booths as naxal infested, 139 hypersensitive, 216 sensitive and the remaining 460 normal. Depending on the sensitivity, distance from the police stations, classification and the voting population, we have deployed approximately 2,000 police officers of all ranks. From Bengaluru and Mangaluru, additional police officers are taking up election duty. In naxal affected areas, we have held combing operations. Police have been deployed in 15 checkposts and we are monitoring the activities. In case of emergency as a precautionary measure, we will deploy a striking force.”
He urged the voters to retain the same trend of casting their vote because the best way for the people to participate in nation building is the elections.
DC Ibrahim said, “People in three Gram Panchayats have threatened to boycott the elections because no development work has been carried out in those areas. We have sent officials to convince the people to take part in the elections. Voting is compulsory and the spirit of the government is to see that every citizen who has completed 18 years, votes because it is a fundamental duty.”
“The people of Banjar Male are very happy that they have been given an opportunity to cast their votes and that they are a part of the democratic process. We have set one booth for 106 voters.”
Speaking about the violations in the election code of conduct, he said, “We have already registered 12 cases of violation, and today, we have registered 7 more cases; 2 in Mangaluru, 9 in Bantwal, 6 in Belthangdy, 1 in Puttur and 2 cases in Sullia. We have given notices to all those who have campaigned in the name of political leaders with the pamphlets printed by political parties. They can go and do the campaigning but they cannot campaign in the name of the political party.”
“We have released 84 symbols for the candidates to select, out of which 73 have been opted by various candidates while 11 have not been selected. Most of the candidates have opted for the commons man’s vehicle, “the Auto”, and this symbol has been sought by 1045 candidates.”
Mangaluru sub division election observer Jyothindra, and others were also present.