Police brace for a challenging poll task in Krishna river’s island villages

Police face challenges ensuring safe elections in remote island villages with limited access, demanding a bridge for safety and development.

NAGAYALANKA

It is a tough task for the police to ensure smooth conduct of the general elections in inaccessible villages where critical polling stations are located in the island villages of Nagayalanka mandal in Krishna district. There is only one punt to shift the forces, election staff and the polling material to the booths situated in these habitations.

With previous incidents of hurling of bombs and a murder in Edurumondi, Nachugunta and Elachetladibba Panchayats in the Avanigadda Assembly Constituency, the polling stations in the fishermen hamlets have been put under critical category, said local people.

There are about 8,000 voters in six polling stations located in the island habitations.

“There is only one punt to cross the river. So we plan to deploy forces in advance,” said the Krishna district Superintendent of Police, Adnan Nayeem Asmi.

“In addition to the law and order police, two companies of the Andhra Pradesh Special Police (APSP), and the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) will be deployed. Web casting and videography will be arranged in the polling booths there,” Mr. Adnan Nayeem told The Hindu on Thursday.

Security has been reviewed and flag marches conducted in the island habitations besides coordination meetings with the community elders for peaceful conduct of the elections, said the SP who visited the critical polling stations, and reviewed the security.