Curious netizen crowd before counting cenes

Surjit Kumar Dhal, Bhubaneswar, May 23: Curious onlookers crowded before the counting centres across Odisha as the counting progressed in those centres for the Lok Sabha and Assembly seats elections for which were held in four phases recently.

            There were jubilation among the crowd as the authorized officials gave news about the counting at regular intervals.

            Many cheered as the trends announced made them happy.

The Odisha police has made a three tier security arrangement for the counting of ballots on May 23 at 63 centres in the state.

The first tier will exclusively be manned by  36 companies Central Armed Police Force (CAPF0 while the second tier will be under the charge of 250 platoons of the Special Armed Police (SAP).

The District police and home guards will look after the third tier, a release from State Police Headquarters here said.

It said for guarding the strongrooms where the Electronic voting machines are kept, additional CCTV cameras have been fitted in consultation with DEO and police personnel have been deployed round the clock to monitor CCTV.

One control room adjacent to the strong room has been made operational round the clock with VHF Set and operators in three shifts.

A Deputy Superintendent of Police along with a police officer has been put on duty round the clock for monitoring the security arrangements of strong room.

Extra force from district police has been put on duty for round the clock at the outer periphery of the Strong Room, it said adding, video cameras with operators have been  placed at the entry and exit points to record all kinds of visits into the Strong Room premises.

A strict vigil is being maintained on the movement of unknown persons at the surrounding of the Strong Room has been maintained and the SPs are paying regular visit to the Strong Room in order to check the alertness of the police personnel deployed.

For Counting Centres, the release said, experienced Police officers and police personnel including women officers, have been deployed at the entry point of the Counting Centres for anti sabotage checking with required DFMD, HHMD and other security gadgets.

Only the persons authorised by the CEO/DEO/RO will be allowed entry into the Counting Centre with verification of Identity, it said adding, each and every person will be frisked physically as well as with electronic devices at the entry point.

Separate enclosure have been arranged for frisking of women at entry point and experienced women police personnel will be deployed for frisking and mobile phone will not be allowed inside the counting centre.

Only persons authorised by the D.E.O. will be permitted to carry mobile phone, the release said.

Match box, Lighter, Cigarette, tobacco items will not be allowed inside the Counting Centre while hidden camera materials such as Spy Pen, Goggles, button camera, smart watch, Hand bag etc. will not be allowed inside the Counting Centre and the police personnel will check these materials thoroughly.

Adequate arrangement is being made for victory procession of different political parties while intensive mobile patrolling is to be introduced in sensitive pockets, the release said.