Poll code will continue to be in force till May 27

Kakinada: As part of the counting arrangements for May 23, district collector Karthikeya Misra instructed the returning officers (ROs) to allow only three vehicles for a Lok Sabha constituency and two for Assembly seat to carry counting agents. Other persons will not be allowed in these vehicles, he said.

Reviewing the arrangements with police superintendents, ROs and DSPs on Saturday, Mr Misra said that counting agents and candidates will have to show their identity and counting passes to board the vehicles. He said that Section 144 will be in force in the surrounding areas of the counting centres and mandal headquarters. No procession will be allowed. He said that the police should arrange entry and exit pickets and keep strict vigil on sensitive persons and groups.

He said that the election code would continue to be in force till May 27. The candidates and their followers will have to get permission from the authorities concerned for any procession. He suggested the DSPs and ROs to hold meetings with the candidates and explain the code of conduct and election commission instructions to them, seeking their cooperation to keep the situation under control. He said a three-tier security system would be set up. CRPF teams would be deployed in the inner circle, APSP forces in the middle circle and local police forces will be on the outer circle.

Superintendent of Police Vishal Gunni and Rajahmundry Urban SP Shemoshi Bajpai said that 911 police personnel have been deployed.