HYDERABAD: The 1,404 critical polling stations identified in Hyderabad district will be guarded by the central armed forces during the December 7 assembly election.
Telangana Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) in an affidavit filed before the high court had said that the highest critical polling stations among all are located in Yakuthpura assembly constituency. This was declared by the office on Thursday in response to a petition moved by Majlis-Bachao Tehreek(MBT) party.
Muzaffarullah Khan who is the MBT counsel told TOI that in the past few elections, including GHMC polls, the AIMIM president and MP from Hyderabad Asaduddin Owaisi and some of his partymen moved around the city in a mob on the day of polling and on some instances it led to violent incidents.
Mr Khan stated that “In the plea, we requested the high court to direct police to take measures to disallow the political leaders to move in mobs either on the road or nearby polling stations. We also requested for providing security at polling booth through central forces and arrangement of CCTVs and other requests were made. All our requests were admitted by the court.”
Deputy Chief Electoral Officer, M Satyavani, in her affidavit at the order of Election Commission and CEO said, “As per the instructions of Telangana CEO, Hyderabad police commissioner will arrange CCTV cameras at 1,404 critical polling station and 17 vulnerable polling locations. The police department will make arrangements by deploying central armed police forces at all the critical polling stations for effective maintenance of law and order in the district.”
The High Court told Election Comision of India and police not to support any political party.