Tags:
Journalism of Courage
SAS NAGAR, Sept 6: The lone counting-cum-collection centre for the Kharar segment of the Roopnagar reserved constituency in Shivalik Public School, Phase VI of the township, is heavily guarded by security personnel.
Assistant Returning Officer O.P. Popli told Newsline that the centre, which is housed in the residential block of the school building, is about 300 metre from the main gate of the school at one corner of the school premises. School security is posted at the main gate and no outsider is allowed in without the permission of the principal.
Four persons would be guarding the building at a time and duties will change accordingly. These strong rooms were made by the authorities in advance preparations for elections. The strong rooms are completely dark as all the window panes and other outlets have been sealed with bricks and concrete.
All the electricity and water connections, if any in these rooms, have been cut and equipment removed. A certification has been taken from the local Executive Engineers of Electricity and Public Health Department ensuring that they are not prone to any electric and water mishap. Flood lights have been installed by the authorities over the building.
The four strong rooms are adjacent to the gymnasium hall where the counting will take place next month. There is only one entry gate into the block which has been barricaded by security personnel. No one is allowed to enter without proper authorisation. The security personnel deployed at the centre are residing within the school premises, added Popli.
He said till date, no political party had approached him to station their polling agent at the centre. If any party approaches them, they will be issued three I-cards. Only one person per party can stay at the centre, that too only for 8 hours at a stretch, after which the person would have to be be replaced by a someone else.
