51,000 strong police to oversee GHMC polls

A heavy security blanket formed by 51,000 police personnel from the three Commissionerates of Hyderabad, Cyberabad and Rachakonda will be over the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) limits that goes to polls on Tuesday.

The police force deployed on the ground will be assisted by special IT teams of the City Police seated in the Command and Control Centres in the respective commissionerates and the DGP’s Office. The teams will monitor all activity through surveillance cameras and update local forces to take remedial measures. 

Apart from this, social media teams will be conducting online patrols on social media platforms to check content that have the potential to spark communal trouble and rumours.

In the last few days, the police in their attempt to instill confidence among the voters and encourage more public participation in the polling process, have taken up flag marches and area domination exercises. Senior police officials themselves participated in the peace march held in all sensitive locations in the city.

To check the flow of illegal liquor and money to influence voters, intrusion of unsocial elements in the GHMC area and to ensure a free and fair polling process, check posts have been set up at different places. These posts are manned round the clock by police personnel and officials of the revenue department.

The police will be deploying mobile parties and Striking Force teams to patrol and react to any



unwarranted situation arising during the election. Already those with communal history were bound over by the police including in the older parts of the city. The Emergency and Fire Services Department too have been put on alert and their vehicles will be stationed at different strategic locations in the city.

On Monday, Cyberabad Police Commissioner VC Sajjanar, addressing a press conference, said 13,500 personnel were deployed in Cyberabad across 38 divisions under 19 police stations. Around 20.5 lakh voters were expected to exercise their franchise in 2,569 polling station covering 674 polling locations in Cyberabad.

“We have conducted meetings with all political parties and sensitised them on the Model Code of Conduct. Zone-wise sensitisation meetings covering all ranks of police officers were also conducted,” Sajjanar said, adding that an ACP rank officer was designated to each GHMC circle as Nodal Officer for coordinating with election authorities.

The Cyberabad police are using IT applications and geo-tagging polling locations and sensitive areas, apart from monitoring the situation using CCTV cameras. The Cyberabad WhatsApp number 9490617444 was being used to take complaints from citizens.

“Social media is being monitored closely by three teams round the clock. Stringent action will be taken up against mischief mongers and rumour mongers who use social media to create unrest,” Sajjanar added.