1,500 personnel from CISF, IRB, Maharashtra and Kerala Police to arrive for security; Demo of VVPAT unit presented

With the Assembly by-polls in Nanjangud and Gundlupet turning out to be an acid test for Congress and BJP, for the first time in election history six contingents of additional Police Force would arrive soon to take care of security in Nanjangud.

Addressing a press meet at his office here this morning, Deputy Commissioner D. Randeep said that three contingents of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), one of India Reserve Battalion (IRB), one of Maharashtra Police and one of Kerala Police, all totalling 1,500 personnel, were expected any moment for election duty in Nanjangud. He added that as of now, all representatives of political parties have co-operated well and with such a huge Police security, he expressed confidence in smooth conduct of the by-poll.

Demo on VVPAT

Randeep, together with Nodal Officer Satish, gave a demonstration of the Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) Unit to be used in conjunction with Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) in the by-poll. They said that 355 VVPAT units have been brought from Uttar Pradesh and 236 of them would be used along with EVMs in Nanjangud by-poll. They added that the whole effort was intended to have a fool-proof system with printed record of votes cast.

Additional DC T. Venkatesh, General Observer Pankaj and others were present.

Chamarajanagar DC B. Ramu gave a similar demonstration on V-VPAT unit at Tahsildar’s office in Gundlupet yesterday.

The DC said that the V-VPAT machines would be used along with EVMs in Gundlupet by-polls to ensure total transparency and a fool-proof system.