12,000 police personnel deployed as DGP announces tight security for municipal vote count

As counting of votes for elections to 116 municipalities and seven municipal corporations gets underway on Friday, Director General of Police B. Shivadhar Reddy on Thursday said elaborate security arrangements have been put in place across the State to ensure the process is conducted peacefully.

A total of 123 counting centres have been established, with around 12,000 police personnel deployed, supported by armed forces and Quick Response Teams, to maintain law and order. The DGP said all counting centres are under continuous CCTV surveillance and that the situation will be monitored in real time from the State Police Command and Control Centre through webcasting.

Strict access control measures have been enforced at all venues. Routes leading to the counting centres are being regulated and only people possessing valid passes will be permitted entry, and thorough security checks are being carried out, he said.

Prohibitory orders have been imposed in the vicinity of the counting centres in accordance with relevant legal provisions to prevent any untoward incidents. Under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), gatherings of large numbers of people within 200 metres of counting centres and the carrying of weapons have been prohibited. The DGP said local police officers have been instructed to take appropriate action against any violations.

Appealing for cooperation, the DGP urged political parties, candidates and citizens to support the police machinery in completing the counting process peacefully and successfully.