Tamil Nadu: In view of the vote counting scheduled for Monday (May 4), extensive security arrangements have been prepared across the state. To ensure a peaceful and impartial counting process, the administration has decided to deploy approximately 100,000 police personnel throughout the state.
The Assembly elections in the state concluded on April 23, following which Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were transported to various counting centers under tight security. Now, the counting of these votes will take place simultaneously at 62 centers.
The Election Commission and the state administration have divided the security of the counting centers into four layers. Paramilitary forces have been deployed in the first cordon of security, where they will handle the outermost security responsibilities. The Tamil Nadu Special Police Force has been deployed in the second cordon, while the Armed Police Force has been stationed in the third cordon. In the fourth and final cordon, local police will be deployed to directly manage order inside and around the centers.
Currently, approximately 10,000 police personnel are already deployed at the counting centers and are maintaining surveillance. As the date for the vote counting draws closer, security arrangements are being further strengthened.
According to officials, all centers are being monitored via CCTV cameras, and entry has been strictly regulated. Only authorized officials, election staff, and essential security personnel will be permitted to enter.
The administration states that security arrangements have been made more robust this time than ever before to prevent any untoward incidents, unruly crowds, or situations involving political tension. The police have been placed on alert in all districts, and additional forces have been deployed in sensitive areas.
Special control rooms have also been established to maintain law and order during the vote counting, keeping a close watch on every activity.
Through coordination between the state police and central forces, every effort is being made to ensure that the vote-counting process is completed in a peaceful, transparent, and secure manner.
The administration has also appealed to citizens not to pay heed to any rumors and to maintain peace.
