Six dists go to polls on Friday Kerala under Hizbul threat

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: For the first time in the history of Kerala, the State Government has been alerted by the Centre about security threat by the Pakistan-based militant outfit Hizbul Mujahideen during the Assembly elections which will begin on Saturday spanning 10 days.

The Central intelligence agencies have written to the Election Commission and the state authorities urging them of clamping tight security across the state to avert any trouble by the terrorist group supported by its local sympathisers.

Subsequently, 19 companies of security forces from other states will be deployed for the Assembly election in the state in addition to the mobile booth patrol and election strike force of the State Police. The security forces from other states have already arrived for the first phase of polls.

Talking about the security arrangements for the polls, DGP Raman Srivastava said that in addition to the reserve police force from other states, a total of 22,000 police personnel from the state, 13 special police officers and 1,500 personnel from various government departments would be deployed.

The police security at the polling booths apart, 1,575 group patrol teams led by sub-inspectors, 826 motor-cycle (mobile) patrols and 1,706 law and order patrol teams will be deployed.

Special teams to prevent the intrusion of trouble-makers from other parts and special election strike forces under the range of DIGs, IGs, ADGP (Operations) and DGP will also be deployed.