The Uttar Pradesh government on Monday requested the Centre for deployment of 200 companies of central forces in the state to maintain law and order during the counting of votes on May 23.
Barring a few sporadic incidents of violence, voting in the seven-phased polls in 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh ended on a peaceful note on May 19.
State DGP O P Singh made the request apprehending that 50 per cent of the Lok Sabha seats in the state could witness a cut throat contest and the winning margin could be very minimal. Keeping this mind, the state police was taking no chance to control the law and order in this situation.
Sources here on Monday said that against the demand of 200 companies of central forces, the state has received 80 companies so far.
Earlier, the Central forces were set to depart from the state by May 21 after conducting the seven phase polls. But now it has been requested by the state DGP, that the Central forces should stay in the state till May 25.
Seats where there are apprehension of violence during the counting are mostly in western UP.
Meanwhile, the Samajwadi Party issued a circular to all its district and city units on Monday asking them to prepare for the counting process.
The letter issued by state SP president Naresh Uttam Patel says that no laxity should be done in the security of the strong room where party workers should perform a duty of eight hours each to keep a close watch on the security of the EVMs and to prevent it from tampering or replacement.
Besides, the SP leader has asked the district leaders to prepare the list of counting agents of the party. ” The counting agents should be experienced and had performed this duty in the past too,” it said.
(UNI)
