In a bid to ensure smooth and safe 2022 assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, the Centre will deploy as many as 375 companies of the Central Armed Police Force across the state. According to reports, a total of 150 companies of CAPF have been earmarked for respective districts already. In addition to the local police, 15,000 personnel will be deployed across the state to help conduct elections in a fair manner by avoiding any inopportune event in the first phase.
As per the polling dates announced by the Election Commission of India, the general election will be carried out in 7 phases across the UP from February 10 to March 7.
Extra forces to be deployed in sensitive areas
[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://media.rbl.ms/image?u=%2Fcms%2Fgall_content%2F2019%2F6%2F2019_6%24largeimg20_Thursday_2019_063548786.jpg&ho=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.tribuneindia.com&s=271&h=e9d680c64f771580d3bf9c15fed7a8319468508f02454df31fa532a37b00cccd&size=980x&c=2337435791 photo_credit=”” pin_description=”” dam=”0″ site_id=20074994 caption=”” photo_credit_src=”https://images.tribuneindia.com/cms/gall_content/2019/6/2019_6$largeimg20_Thursday_2019_063548786.jpg” crop_info=”%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//media.rbl.ms/image%3Fu%3D%252Fcms%252Fgall_content%252F2019%252F6%252F2019_6%2524largeimg20_Thursday_2019_063548786.jpg%26ho%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fimages.tribuneindia.com%26s%3D271%26h%3De9d680c64f771580d3bf9c15fed7a8319468508f02454df31fa532a37b00cccd%26size%3D980x%26c%3D2337435791%22%7D” expand=1]
Talking about the same, an Uttar Pradesh Police Official said, “Thirty Companies of Border Security Force (BSF) and Sashastra Seema Bal, 20 companies of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), and Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), 50 companies of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) have been included in the total companies of 150 Central Armed Police Forces which are being provided by the Centre”.
According to an official, each company of the Central Armed Police Force includes about 100 personnel in general. Going by this, a total of 15,000 men in uniform will be deployed across the state in the initial phase. Additionally, there is a separate provision for sending extra force depending upon the sensitivity and vulnerability of districts.
Prayagraj to get maximum security
[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://media.rbl.ms/image?u=%2Findiatoday%2Fimages%2Fstory%2F202201%2FCR_1200x768.jpeg%3FIHLkhQXSx.UiZVZFXMMqQx4ih4qSmYzw%26size%3D770%3A433&ho=https%3A%2F%2Fakm-img-a-in.tosshub.com&s=1004&h=eda0e18797a5827c935aba0c9fa55224f542b110650a7b7a57d7d6f66b568cd8&size=980x&c=1095395795 photo_credit=”” pin_description=”” dam=”0″ site_id=20074994 caption=”” photo_credit_src=”https://akm-img-a-in.tosshub.com/indiatoday/images/story/202201/CR_1200x768.jpeg?IHLkhQXSx.UiZVZFXMMqQx4ih4qSmYzw&size=770:433″ crop_info=”%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//media.rbl.ms/image%3Fu%3D%252Findiatoday%252Fimages%252Fstory%252F202201%252FCR_1200x768.jpeg%253FIHLkhQXSx.UiZVZFXMMqQx4ih4qSmYzw%2526size%253D770%253A433%26ho%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fakm-img-a-in.tosshub.com%26s%3D1004%26h%3Deda0e18797a5827c935aba0c9fa55224f542b110650a7b7a57d7d6f66b568cd8%26size%3D980x%26c%3D1095395795%22%7D” expand=1]
The agencies are directed to provide their services to the designated places by January 10, informed an official. The UP Police department has directed local police of all the districts to conduct a flag march which will be assisted by paramilitary forces. As per reports, with four companies of CAPF, Prayagraj will get the maximum security in the state.
Notably, out of the 78 districts in Uttar Pradesh, four of them including Lucknow, Kanpur, Varanasi and Gautam Buddha Nagar have a dedicated commissionerate system. Out of these, Lucknow Kanpur and Varanasi will get three companies of CAPF each, while Gautam Buddha Nagar will be given two paramilitary companies. Out of the remaining districts, thirty-five have been allotted two companies each, whereas the rest twenty-five will get one paramilitary company only, suggest reports.
Election to be rolled out in 7 phases in UP
[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://media.rbl.ms/image?u=%2Fsites%2Fdh%2Ffiles%2Farticle_images%2F2022%2F01%2F10%2Fvoting-elections-istock-1050462-1636854308-1-1069684-1641780635.jpg&ho=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.deccanherald.com&s=721&h=3c21e170472059dad535ffadf35aba9359edfee9f0f97cf218a4226bbf314e42&size=980x&c=3979304843 photo_credit=”” pin_description=”” dam=”0″ site_id=20074994 caption=”” photo_credit_src=”https://www.deccanherald.com/sites/dh/files/article_images/2022/01/10/voting-elections-istock-1050462-1636854308-1-1069684-1641780635.jpg” crop_info=”%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//media.rbl.ms/image%3Fu%3D%252Fsites%252Fdh%252Ffiles%252Farticle_images%252F2022%252F01%252F10%252Fvoting-elections-istock-1050462-1636854308-1-1069684-1641780635.jpg%26ho%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.deccanherald.com%26s%3D721%26h%3D3c21e170472059dad535ffadf35aba9359edfee9f0f97cf218a4226bbf314e42%26size%3D980x%26c%3D3979304843%22%7D” expand=1]
While the first phase will start on February 10, cities under the second phase will cast their votes on February 14. Places under the third phase will get to vote on February 20 while voting in the fourth phase will take place on February 23.
Polling under the fifth and sixth phases will take place on February 27 and March 3. In the last leg of polling, places that are marked under the seventh phase will cast their vote on March 7. According to the schedule, the counting of the votes in UP will take place on March 10.
-with inputs from IANS
