With two weeks to go for the Assembly election, manpower strength has been augmented with the arrival of State Armed Police (SAP) teams from Gujarat to carry out election-related bandobust duties in the nine districts of central zone.

The SAP teams, numbering 910 personnel, are the latest to land in the region after the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Border Security Force (BSF) arrived last month. The SAP personnel, who arrived a few days ago, have been sent to different districts for deployment. 

The number of SAP personnel sent to the districts: Ariyalur (184), Tiruchi (186), Karur (93), Pudukottai (87), Thanjavur (91), Tiruvarur (91), Nagapattinam (89) and Mayiladuthurai (89). They have been accommodated at different places and provided with vehicles. The district police have nominated their police personnel as liaison officers for the SAP teams, which reported to the Superintendent of Police upon arrival. 

A detailed briefing has been given to the SAP personnel regarding election-related security protocols and responsibilities, said police sources.

The SAP personnel will be deployed for flag marches to instill confidence among the general public, in static surveillance teams, flying squads and at border check posts, besides polling booths on the day of election.

The total number of BSF and CRPF personnel already deployed in different districts in the zone at present is 570. The CRPF personnel have been deployed in Tiruchi and Karur districts, while BSF personnel have been posted in Pudukottai, Perambalur, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Mayiladuthurai districts.

In addition to deploying district police strength on the day of election, besides CRPF, BSF and Gujarat SAP personnel, plans are also afoot to utilise personnel from Tamil Nadu Special Police for bandobust on the day of polling scheduled on April 23.

The dedicated election cell of the police constituted in every district in the wake of the upcoming election has been entrusted with multiple tasks. They include preparation of detailed security schemes to put in place comprehensive bandobust arrangements on the day of election to ensure that they are held in a free, fair and peaceful manner. 

Police strength will be deployed for safe transportation of electronic voting machines to the polling booths on the eve of polling and transportation of EVMs after completion of the exercise to strong rooms. A multi-tier security arrangement will be put in place at each counting centre in every district. The counting of votes is scheduled to be taken up on May 4.