3-tier security measures for poll counting
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, May 25 2024:
Setting in motion for counting votes of the Lok Sabha Elections, 2024 scheduled for 4th June, 2024 (Tuesday), a press briefing was convened at the DC Office, Lamphelpat on Friday sharing updates on the preparations and security arrangements undertaken by the District Election Office, Imphal West The press briefing was attended by the Returning Officer for 1-Inner Manipur Parliamentary Constituency (1-IMPC) and DEO Imphal West, Th Kirankumar, along with SP Imphal West Ksh Shi-vakanta (IPS), and Assistant Returning Officers (AROs).
Addressing the media, DEO Imphal West Th Kirankumar said that the strong room will be opened at 6:30 am in the presence of central security forces and representatives of political parties, following which the counting process will commence from 8.00 am for the 32 Assembly Constituencies (ACs) across four districts of the 1-IMPC.Counting for postal ballots and ETPBS for 1-IMPC will be conducted solely in Imphal West, while counting for Special Polling Stations for IDPs will be held in different districts.
In Imphal West district, a total of 9 counting halls will be set up, comprising 7 for EVMs and 2 for postal ballots and ETPBS.
Regarding security measures, a three-tier cordon will be established around the complex, and special traffic routes will be designated for smooth traffic flow on the counting day.
The DEO said that restrictions will be imposed along DC Imphal West road on June 4 on movement of individuals unrelated to the counting process.
He urged counting agents to arrive before 6:30 am.
The initial round of training for counting officials has concluded.
To safeguard against inclement weather, each counting hall will be equipped with one reserved vehicle, fitted with cameras and escorted by security personnel, to prevent EVM machines from potential rain damage.
For the Inner Manipur Parliamentary Constituency, 5545 postal ballots, 4892 ballots for door-to-door voting for elderly citizens, and 653 employee postal ballots have been reported.
Out of 9000 service voters, 5574 ballots have been received.
Only ballots received before the commencement of counting will be included, he informed.
A comprehensive counting manual booklet, based on Election Commission of India (ECI) guidelines, has been released.
Counting agents are prohibited from bringing mobile phones, ink pens, or sharp objects into the DC office complex.
Media personnel without an ECI-issued card will not be permitted inside the counting hall.
They will be escorted periodically by DIPR personnel inside the counting halls.
Live results will be updated hourly in the media gallery where WiFi facility will be made available for media.
A 100-meter radius around the DC office will be restricted to unrelated persons or vehicles during the counting process, with only official vehicles granted access to the complex, he added.
SP Imphal West Ksh Shi-vakanta said that CAPF personnel will be deployed inside the DC office complex and state forces inside and outside the compound to prevent any untoward incidents.
Stringent security measures will be enforced along important routes from the western gate of Kangla to the DC Imphal West office complex, with only officials and media permitted to cross the four crossings in the vicinity of DC office.
DC Th Kirankumar and SP Ksh Shivakanta both appealed to the general public to extend full support to ensure a seamless counting process.
They urged citizens to report any untoward incidents to the nearest police station or the police control room.