Preparation for polls underway

MUMBAI, AUG 26: Mumbai police, the state Election Commission and the two district collectorates have made special arrangements to handle over 2,400 sensitive polling stations in the city for the simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and Assembly on September 11.

Of the total 9,244 polling stations in Mumbai, 2,400 booths 8212; spread over 36 Assembly constituencies 8212; have been labelled sensitive. However, no particular area has a concentration of sensitive polling stations, and authorities say that the high number of sensitive polling stations should not be a cause for concern. According to a senior police officer, a polling station is declared as sensitive as per four criteria. For instance previous instances of booth capturing even if several years ago, Also, intelligence agencies provide information on undercurrents in the area.

Communal tension, bogus voting in previous elections, the presence of slums which house petty/roadside criminals are other criteria. To avoid trouble, police make preventivearrests and put anti-social elements behind bars a day before polling. They are releases only the next day. History-sheeters are also arrested and produced before metropolitan magistrates, who remand them to custody for four to five days. Action is taken under Section 1513 of the Criminal Procedure Code.