Uneasy calm in Mandya ahead of counting today
Processions and celebrations have been banned to avoid probable clashes between political rivals.
Mysuru: Elaborate security arrangements have been made for counting in Mandya constituency, where Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy's son, Nikhil, is facing strong competition from independent candidate, Ms Sumalatha Ambareesh, wife of the late actor/politician, M H Ambareesh, this Lok Sabha poll.
A 1000 policemen have been deployed to maintain law and order in the constituency with as many as 400 deputed at the counting centre at the Government Mahavidyalaya alone.
Door frame metal detectors are being installed to screen those entering the counting centre and CCTV cameras have been installed both inside and outside it to monitor the proceedings. KSRP and DAR platoons are being deputed in sensitive zones in the district and sale of liquor has been banned from Wednesday midnight to Thursday midnight. Prohibitory orders under section 144 have been declared from 6am, Thursday to 12am, Friday. Processions and celebrations have been banned to avoid probable clashes between political rivals.
As a precaution, the police have made alternate arrangements for traffic too. Mandya saw heavy voting with 80.42 per cent of 1,711182 voters turning out to exercise their franchise.