Electoral Security ManagementBy Ashok Kumar, IPS Deputy Commissioner of Police Crime Branch, Vadodara, Gujart

INTRODUCTIONThe Election Commission has been a part of the journey of our

Republic since its very inception. It has been working with great responsibility from election to election and contributing to taking the nation forward step by step, from one destination to another, from strength to strength and bringing stability to our democratic system. We can be justifiably proud that free and fair elections have been held with regularity in our country in the last six decades. India and democracy have become intertwined concepts and it is hard to imagine one without the other. Democracy, the very essence of our Constitution, has become our nation's identity.

Elections are the foundation stone of any democracy. The conduct of free, fair and impartial elections depends much upon the performance of the three stakeholders. They are - independent and impartial electoral machinery; political parties and candidates; and the electorate. All of them must act responsibly.

Importance of Elections

INDIA - a SECULAR, SOCAILIST, DEMOCRATIC republic.

The Hallmark of Democracy is a government:OF the peopleBY the peopleFOR the people

It is the elected members of the Parliament or State Legislative or Local Bodies, which are the representatives OF the people, and they run the National or State Government or local bodies FOR the people. The elections fulfill this importance task in the democratic process. If the administrative machinery is unable to fulfill its promise to the people and do its job professionally and fairly, it will be negating the very basic core of this sacrosanct value – elected representative are OF the people. Then we will have governance NOT FOR the people, but to serve the interests of the powers-that-be.

PRE POLL

• DM – SP Relationship.• Right persons are put at the right places.• Visit all the polling stations and all the villages:

▫ Confidence building measure.▫ Educate the voters▫ Troublemakers▫ List of arms licenses▫ Demography of the village▫ Pulse of the village▫ Intelligence collection▫ Suitability of the booth and the approach route▫ Sensitive analysis / vulnerability analysis▫ Mobility and accessibility▫ Make roof top PORCHES

• The SDPO, along with SDM, should be directed to visit all the sensitive / vulnerable booths and villages in his AOR.

• The SP should project his demand of men and equipment to the higher authorities

• Security Proceedings under section 107/106 CrPC should be vigorously initiated.▫ The following should bound down under these proceedings:

All those involved in previous election related incidents. Aggressive party workers Caste or communal leaders Goons and Goondas Local arm twisters

▫ The SHO should make sure that all the persons are bound down for heavy sureties during the interim period of 6 months u/s 116(3) CrPC

▫ These proceedings are an effective way of ensuring peace.▫ Sureties of any person who is bound u/s 116(3) CrPC and commits

any breach of peace should be seized.▫ It is very important to monitor that it is not made a tool of

unnecessary harassment and partisan action.

• The following special drives should be launched:▫ Arrest of wanted and rewarded criminals.▫ Arrest of warrantees.▫ Arrest & preventive detention of action of criminals, political goondas,

intimidators, HS, etc.▫ Action against offenders in previous elections.▫ Checking of vehicles, lodges, explosive dumps.▫ Drive against illicit arms, distillation, narcotics and explosives.▫ Migration of outstanding disputes, primarily political in nature▫ Detention under NSA, Externment proceedings , proceedings under 110

CrPC and special Acts of the states should be started.▫ Cancellation of arms licenses of persons with criminal records.▫ Deposition of licensed arms.▫ Checking of arms shops and explosive warehouses.

• Proclamation under 144 CrPC to implement the Election Code of conduct.

• Preventing checking at the barriers to check on movement of arms. Liquors, explosives and anti-social elements.

• Strict compliance of election code of conduct.▫ Hold meetings of political parties to educate them about the

provisions.▫ Control of misuse of vehicle during election period:

No convoys of more than three vehicles allowed. All bigger convoys to be broken, even if they are carrying any

minister any minister of central / state Government. No arm escorts allowed. Vehicles and convoys are checked for wrong & illegal things. Restriction on use of vehicle on polling day.

▫ Prohibition of sale of liquor: “Dry Day” shall be declared for 48 hours ending with the hour fixed

for conclusion of poll. Drive to launched again illicit liquor.

▫ Prevention of defacement of public and private property: No defacement of public property. No banners across the road. No use of private property without permission.

▫ Regulation of use of loudspeakers.▫ Publication of brochure, pamphlets, etc., monitored.▫ All, even Ministers, to follow the Election Code of conduct.▫ No one allowed to move with arms.▫ Public rallies/ VIP Rallies to follow restriction of time and

permission.▫ Vidoegraphy of critical events.▫ Canvassing stops 48 hours before polling.

• Strict enforcement of code of conduct during the day of nomination also.

• Registration of case for any violation of Election code of conduct and of law.

• Contact with the political parties & the candidates to ensure compliance of the model code of conduct.

• Provide adequate bandobust for all procession and public meeting.• Videography should be done for important meetings/rallies.• Election observers are to be kept in confidence.• Effective use of media.• Intensive use of Intelligence machinery.• Decision of even arresting very powerful persons who have the

potential to create trouble on the day of poll could also be taken.• Conducive environment for free elections.

One should never forget the tenet of supervision:

It is important to monitor all police action too ensure compliance, impartiality and corrective measures. Hence officers should be accessible to the political parties, press and the public.

Style of leadership and motivation has to be adopted

Training

POLL DAY

• Dominate the area & the mood before the trouble makers do so.• Strong enforcement of the code of conduct at the polling booths:

▫ No party booth to be allowed within 200 m.▫ Not more than two chairs & a table at the party booth.▫ No posters and crowding allowed.▫ Polling agents to sit properly and behave

No minister, MP or MLA to be allowed to become polling agent. Polling agent not allowed to take the electoral list outside the booth.

▫ Roof top armed duties on sensitive booths▫ Frisking of voters

• All men on bandobust duty at polling stations should know where the nearest police station, telephone, telegraph and wireless station are located.

• As soon as any trouble starts at any place requiring additional help, prompt intimation should be sent by the quickest available means to the appropriate authority.

• Restriction on movement of vehicles:▫ Only vehicle having permit are allowed to ply.▫ Stoppage of misuse of vehicle permit.▫ No ferrying of voters allowed.

• Nakas & checkpoint barriers to be strategically positioned with adequate force to check all vehicles for carrying arms, goondas and voters.

• Borders sealing so as not to allow criminals or goondas to enter the district on day of the poll.

• Force deployment as per sensitivity of the booth.• Strong mobility of the district officials, SDPO & SHO with their

strong reserves in the area to enforce code of conduct at booths, on roads & to provide support wherever required.

• Adequate number of sector & zonal mobiles with reserves so that at least one mobile or the other researches a booth every 15-20 minutes.

• Sector mobiles to provide food packet to the men positioned on the booth or at the barriers.

• The tracking team should be briefed to arrest the “difficult” person the moments he violates the law or the code.

• Adequate reserves & anti-riot units to be positioned so that they can respond quickly.

• The duties of Mobile Parties are:▫ To escort polling material, polling personnel & the police persons provided

for stationary bandobust.▫ To move on the route allotted to familiarize the route and gather advance

information.▫ To move briskly on the Election Day touching all the booths on the

minimum time.▫ To concentrate on trouble spots.▫ To rush to any area where trouble erupts and passes on the information to

the police station.▫ To obtain signatures of Presiding Officers on point books.▫ To position itself in the last village at the time of completion of poll &

escort back the polling persons & ballot boxes from all the police stations en-route.

• VHF/UHF communication should be provided to all mobile parties & special striking force & check posts.

• To cross check all information given by public, but in the process ensure that mobiles do not coverage in an area, leaving some other areas free from booth capturing.

• Ensure that ballot boxes/EVMS are escorted back after the poll.

• Election Control Room:▫ To monitor the progress of the poll.▫ To monitor acts of violence & booth capturing.▫ To send reinforcement wherever required after seeking permission of the

concerned officer.▫ To send SITREPS (Situation Reports) to all concerned.▫ To receive complaints from any political party or candidate on the day of

poll, document it & have it verified.▫ To keep in touch with the media to receive information about trouble &

send reinforcements. Also to provide them with information.▫ To keep stock of reserves.▫ To monitor receipt of ballot boxes/EVMs after the poll.

POST POLL

• Counting of Votes:▫ The venue of counting should be carefully chosen from the security point

of view.▫ Anti-sabotage check the venue.▫ Fire & short circuit check the venue.▫ Security at outer & inner cordon.▫ Make an isolation cordon where only authorized persons are allowed.▫ Separate lanes for bringing ballot boxes under escort.▫ Adequate barricading & meshing of counting area.▫ Barricading to provide lanes for separately assembly segment.▫ Search lights, watch towers.▫ Duties put in order to restrict entry pass holder & officials only, frisking of

every person for even person for ink or acid, regulate the sitting of counting agents.

▫ Identity cards and passes for all.▫ Change over of duties▫ Food & tea for the force at the appropriate time.

• Victory procession post the declaration of results can be restricted/regulated. Strong arrangements to be made to ensure that people of varying factions don’t clash.

• The police should complete the investigation of all election related cases expeditiously & file the police report in the concerned jurisdiction court immediately after the election process is over.

• Make homepage the site of ECI.• Updating the latest instructions of ECI• Never undermine the instructions.• Ignorance of Law is no excuse.• Instruction must be followed in letter and spirit.• Regular contact between SP and the DM.• Every action must be impartial.• Regular contact with Election Observers (General as well as

Expenditure Observers).