Police Advisory To Prevent Violence During Polls

Cuttack: Instilling confidence among the people and ensuring free, fair and peaceful elections is on top of the agenda for Odisha Police as the state enters the third phase of elections. In view of the incidents of violence during the first phase, Odisha Police on Monday issued an advisory to all the SPs of the state.

Apart from asking them to utilise the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) for flag march in the sensitive, the SPs have been asked to assess threat perception to the contesting candidates and provide necessary security to them.

All poll-related violence will be backed by legal action by the district police. A close watch will be kept on the activities of supporters of political parties and movement of anti-social elements.

A woman polling supervisor was gunned down by suspected Maoists in Kandhamal district on April 17. The deceased identified as Sanjukta Diggal was a Gram Rojgar Sevak (GRS) and was on election duty. Besides, at least two persons have been killed so far in poll-related violence in the state.