May 24, 2024, Chandigarh – A meeting of senior police officers was held at the Police Headquarters in Panchkula under the chairmanship of Director General of Police Shatrujeet Kapoor to conduct the Lok Sabha General Elections-2024 to be held on May 25 in Haryana in a free, fair and peaceful manner. Inspector Generals of Police, Police Commissioners, Superintendents of Police and Deputy Commissioners of Police from across the state along with other senior officers participated in the meeting through video conferencing. In this meeting, various aspects including deployment of police force and conducting the voting process in a peaceful manner were discussed in detail.
Strong law and order strategy prepared for the voting process: In the meeting, Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Sanjay Kumar presented the report of preparations for maintaining law and order in the state on May 25. The Director General of Police said that maintaining law and order during the elections is our top priority so that people can vote impartially without fear, therefore all police officers should not have any kind of doubt regarding election duty and keep briefing their subordinate police personnel to bring clarity about duty. He said that it is very important for the policemen to have clarity about when, what and how to work in case of different situations arising related to disruption of law and order at the polling station. He said that they should also provide a list of important numbers to the policemen so that the concerned officer can be contacted if needed. He said that the Superintendent of Police, in coordination with the District Deputy Commissioner, should ensure to maintain law and order at every level in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Election Commission of India.
The message should be loud and clear at every level: Shri Kapoor said that the policemen posted at the booths have to ensure law and order there. Every policeman should know his do’s and don’ts well. He clearly said that negligence in this matter will not be tolerated at all. In this regard, the message should be loud and clear from the police officer to the last policeman posted on duty. During this, it is very important to use the communication system to maintain strong coordination among all the policemen.
Police will keep an eye on every inch of the place- On the issue of deployment of police force at booths, he said that adequate number of police force has been provided to all the districts. Police Commissioner and Superintendent of Police should deploy them as per the requirement at booths in their jurisdiction. He also said that the police force should remain alert from the beginning of the election process till after the voting is over and keep an eye on anti-social elements. Policemen should especially take care that there is no violence after the voting is over and remain alert and keep a close eye on such anti-social elements till the next day of voting.
Active control room, quick action: Apart from this, police officers should be in touch with the staff available at the control rooms and keep an eye on every call coming in related to the elections. He said that every call related to the elections will be very important, so after receiving the call in the control room, it should be well organized as to where, how and to which officer or employee the message should reach. He said that during this time the wireless system has to be used effectively. He said that if homework is done on all these aspects before voting, then certainly no policeman will face any problem on the day of voting. Apart from this, he also instructed the patrolling parties to patrol regularly. He clearly said that arrangements should be made so that people can vote impartially without any fear at the polling booth.
Adequate police force, strong security system: It was told in the meeting that for the Lok Sabha elections, more than 35 thousand policemen of Haryana Police (including SPOs), 112 companies of paramilitary force, more than 24 thousand home guard jawans will be deployed. During this time, a total of 300 checkposts will be set up on interstate and interstate borders to maintain law and order. A total of 20 thousand 6 polling stations have been set up at 10 thousand 343 places for voting in the state. Apart from this, 3033 polling stations at 1362 places have been considered sensitive (critical) and 51 polling stations have been considered vulnerable. Additional police force will be deployed at these polling stations. Along with this, 418 flying squad teams, 415 static surveillance teams and 34 quick response teams have been formed in the state. To ensure law and order in the state and to ensure compliance with the model code of conduct, 1039 patrolling parties have also been deployed which are patrolling day and night.
Training and mock exercises on new laws: Apart from this, the effective implementation of the three new laws was also discussed in detail in the meeting. Mr. Kapoor said that the role of District Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police is very important in the effective implementation of the three new laws. Mr. Kapoor asked them to work towards providing proper training to the investigation officers about the new law. He also emphasized the need to conduct mock exercises for the investigation officers on these new laws after May 25 so that by July 1, 2024, every investigation officer can work in accordance with these new laws with full confidence.
Those present: In this meeting held at Police Headquarters, Additional Director General of Police CID Alok Mittal, Additional Director General of Police Cyber OP Singh, Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Sanjay Kumar, Additional Director General of Police (Modernization and Welfare) Amitabh Dhillon, IG Law and Order Hardeep Doon and many other senior officers participated through video conferencing.
- Detailed discussion was held on maintaining strong law and order during the voting proces.
- Every level officer in the police department should have clarity about their work, negligence will not be tolerated- DGP.
- More than 35 thousand policemen (including SPOs), 112 companies of paramilitary forces, more than 24 thousand home guard jawans will be deployed.