Robust Bandust arranged for free & fair polling in Munugode by-election: Rachakonda CP

Mahesh Bhagwat, Commissioner of Police in Rachakonda, stated that fool-proof security arrangements have been made for the Munugode bye-election.

On Wednesday, he briefed police personnel for the Munugode Assembly constituency by-election, scheduled for 3 November. He reviewed the bandobast security arrangements and directed officials not to leave room for any untoward incidents until the polls end.

The Rachakonda Police Commissionerate has jurisdiction over the Munugode assembly constituency's Choutuppal and Narayanpur mandals, according to the CP. Choutuppal and Narayanpur mandals are home to 82 polling locations and 122 of the total 298 polling stations. Security has been beefed up in critical polling locations, according to CP, with 6 companies of Central Armed Police Forces deployed across the polling locations.

"Police teams are conducting vehicle checking drives at border checkpoints around the clock, and approximately cash worth Rs 4 crores, 1000 litres of liquor, 3.5 kgs of gold, and 11.5kgs of ganja have been seized so far during vehicle inspections," Bhagwat added. He also stated that liquor stores will be closed from 6 pm on 1 November to 6 pm on 3 November and that anyone involved in the illegal sale and supply of liquor on election day will be prosecuted.

Bhagwat reminded everyone that, in addition to Rachakonda police teams, teams of Central Armed Police Forces (CRPF, CISF, and RAF) are being deployed, and that route mobile striking forces, special striking forces, special surveillance teams, and flying squad teams will continue to work. The Rachakonda Police Commissionerate has set up a dedicated control room to monitor security at polling locations, and the CP has also instructed staff to strengthen security at 16 polling locations and 35 polling stations identified as critical.

CP has also stated that dedicated IT teams have been established to take live telecasts of the situation at any time, before and during polling at all Choutuppal and Narayanpur mandals. They held a demonstration of the same today and assessed the arrangements made at all polling stations in the Choutuppal and Narayanpur mandals.

He has warned that mobile phones are not permitted on polling station premises, and that taking selfies and disclosing the information to whom they have voted on social media platforms will result in a fine. The CP encouraged citizens to exercise their right to vote and sought the cooperation of citizens and political parties in order to complete the polls peacefully.