Telangana: Tight security in place in Khammam, Kothagudem for first phase of gram panchayat polls

Khammam and Kothagudem police have deployed over 3,700 personnel for the first phase of gram panchayat elections. Critical, problematic and Maoist-affected polling stations are under tight surveillance, with flying squads, check-posts and special teams ensuring smooth and peaceful polling

Khammam: Commissioner of Police Sunil Dutt informed that tight security arrangements with 2,000 personnel were made for the first phase gram panchayat elections. Armed police forces have been deployed at critical polling stations to prevent any untoward incidents.

Inspections were being carried out by Special Striking Force, Route Mobile Parties, 5 FST and 15 SST teams. As many as 6,403 persons were produced before the tahsildars in 953 bind over cases. There were 184 critical polling stations in the three phases of polling.

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A special cell has been set up to work 24 hours a day at the district headquarters with the special branch and other staff. Similarly 16 check posts besides special police check points were set up across the district and in border areas. A flying squad team will be at each checkpoint, Dutt said.

In raids on liquor belt shops 1,200 litres of liquor worth Rs 12 lakhs was seized. A total of 86 persons with licensed guns in the district have surrendered their weapons to the district police. The movements of 207 rowdy sheeters, 1100 troublemakers and ex-convicts were under surveillance.

In a meeting with contesting candidates on Tuesday, the CP Dutt told them to act responsibly to ensure that the elections were held in a peaceful atmosphere.

Kothagudem Superintendent of Police B Rohith Raju said that 1,700 police personnel would be deployed for the first phase of panchayat elections in the district and police security was arranged at 1,510 polling stations.

Out of the 1,510 polling stations, 723 were normal polling stations, 157 were problematic, 24 were extremely problematic, 16 were critical polling stations and 590 were Maoist-affected polling stations, he noted.