Tirupati: Tirupati district remains on edge ahead of the vote counting on June 4. Fears of violence prompted the district authorities to sound a high alert and beef up security across the region.
Sporadic clashes had occurred after the May 13 polling. A potential flare-up of old rivalries between political groups is feared once the results start coming in.
Violence was reported on the polling day mainly from Kuchuvaripalle, Ramireddypalle, Pulivartivaripalle and Brahmanakaaluva areas.
Even the premises of Sri Padmavati Mahila Viswa Vidyalayam, where EVMs were locked and secured after the polling, witnessed chaotic scenes. Mobs attacked Telugu Desam's Chandragiri candidate Pulivarthi Nani.
The district police force drew flak for its inability to prevent such incidents. This led to the suspension of two deputy superintendents and circle inspectors.
The district administration headed by collector Pravin Kumar and SP Harshavardhan Raju are trying to ensure a peaceful culmination of the democratic process.
A stringent security protocol has been activated, including the imposition of ban orders under Section 144 in sensitive areas, flag marches with the aid of central security forces, intensive frisking and cordon-and-search operations across the district.
On Thursday, such operations were carried out in areas under Renigunta, Puttur, Tiruchanoor, Naidupeta and Sullurpeta police stations.
The authorities have maintained that the central forces will remain deployed for a fortnight more, after the counting process concludes on June 4. "No victory rally or procession will be permitted across the district on the day of counting. Section 144 will be strictly enforced. Only those with prior police permission can hold celebrations in the later days," the SP said.
The police have launched a crackdown on potential troublemakers. They are maintaining a vigil on villages with a history of poll-related unrest and monitoring the movement of suspects and strangers. Sale of petrol in bottles and firecrackers too has been prohibited for a period.
