Ahead of Elections Police Focus on Border Surveillance

HYDERABAD: In view of the model code of conduct for the November 30 upcoming Assembly elections, the Telangana police have strengthened surveillance along the state borders, setting up checkposts and holding coordination meetings with their counterparts in the neighbouring states to control the flow of cash, liquor and other prohibited items.

Unit officers of the districts sharing borders with left-wing-affected Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra had started the exercise much before the election code came into force on October 10, and have started reaching out to the electorate to exercise their vote.

Gaush Alam, SP, Mulug district, one of the most Maoist-affected districts said that they had held multiple meetings with their counterparts in Chhattisgarh at various levels and had drafted plans to foil any attempt to disrupt the election process.

“We share a border with Chhattisgarh by river and land too. Checksposts have been set up on both state borders and we have seized explosives used in making IEDs a few days ago. We are on high alert, keeping tabs on the movement of LWE cadres, sympathisers and others who could be associated with them,” he told Deccan Chronicle, adding that constant area domination and combing operations are also held.

B.K. Rahul Hegde, SP, Suryapet, said that they had increased surveillance on the river and road routes and have set up checkposts. “ Since we share borders with Palnadu and NTR districts of Andhra Pradesh, we held meetings with them and they have also set up checkposts on their side. Information and intel sharing is also happening regularly to ensure strict enforcement,” he said.

Ritiraj, SP of Jogulamba Gadwal district, which shares borders with Kurnool and Nandyal of Andhra Pradesh, and Raichur of Karnataka said they are focussing on better coordination with their counterparts for better enforcement of the MCC.