Nellore SP to deploy 1,500 police personnel for local body polls

Superintendent of Police (SP) Ajitha Vejendla has said a plan is being prepared to implement security arrangements, involving 1,500 police personnel, for the upcoming local body elections in SPSR Nellore district. Around 220 police staff have been deployed to ensure security at 44 nomination centres, including 20 within the city, 13 in Atmakur and 11 in Buchireddypalem.

She said, “The district police administration is fully prepared with stringent security arrangements to ensure that the upcoming local body elections are conducted in a peaceful, free, and fair manner. Adequate security and monitoring measures have been put in place at the nomination centres to ensure that the nomination filing process proceeds peacefully and the public do not face any issues.”

“As part of this, sensitive and highly sensitive areas have been identified, and additional forces will be deployed in these locations based on the specific situation. Police officials have been instructed to intensify proactive measures, such as continuous patrolling, vehicle checks, and surveillance of the movements of suspicious individuals, to ensure that no untoward incidents occur,” the SP said.

Since the beginning of this year, approximately 300 ‘cordon and search’ operations (CASO) have been conducted across the district with the objective of controlling crime, curbing anti-social activities, monitoring the movements of suspicious individuals and ensuring public safety. Through the CASO, authorities are keeping a close watch on the movement of suspicious vehicles as well. More than 4,000 awareness programmes had been conducted so far in the district, the SP said.

As a preventive measure to ensure that no untoward incidents occur during the election period, the SP said ‘bind-over’ proceedings had been initiated against 874 individuals across the district so far. The police department will maintain strict surveillance on individuals with a history of involvement in election-related conflicts and other troublesome persons, she said.

She advised the public, political parties and candidates to strictly adhere to the election code of conduct and refrain from any actions that could disrupt law and order. She warned of strict legal action against those engaged in intimidation, conflicts or illegal activities during the elections.