Madurai under scanner of Police

Madurai:The Collector, S.S. Jawahar, centre, addressing a meeting of police officials in Madurai on Wednesday.The Madurai West Assembly constituency, where by-election is slated for June 26, has come under the scanner of the police and district administration.Special teams of election officials have been deployed to initiate pre-poll arrangements as filing of nominations begins on June 1.Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, the Additional Director General of Police and Commissioner, A. Subramanian, and the Collector, S.S. Jawahar, said that all steps would be taken to ensure a free and fair election. The code of conduct would be implemented in letter and spirit.

Mr. Subramanian said that the police were closely monitoring all the 216 polling stations in the constituency. Vigil had been stepped up at lodges, unoccupied houses and marriage halls to prevent the entry of "outsiders." Police personnel were briefed of the rules pertaining to the conduct of processions/meetings and use of vehicles for campaign.An elaborate election security scheme was being prepared. Besides the local police, additional forces would also be roped in for bandobust.

Mr. Jawahar said that the police and revenue officials had been instructed to gather intelligence with regard to the movement of outsiders in the constituency. All officials involved directly or indirectly in the election process would come under the "superintendence, control and discipline" of the Election Commission."If any official is found to be violating the code of conduct, disciplinary action will be taken, apart from transfer," he warned.A review meeting of police and elections officials was held where the procedures of filing nomination, campaigning etc were discussed. The Madurai SP, T.S. Anbu, the DCPs, R. Ramrajan (Law and Order), V.H. Mohammed Haneefa (Crimes), J. Ravindran (Headquarters) and K. Veerasekharan (Armed Reserve) were present.