Amir Subhani (left) and HC Sirohi address the news meet at state election commission office in Patna on Monday. Picture by Jai Prakash

Patna, May 7: The state election commission (SEC) is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that foolproof security arrangement is in place for the May 17 civic polls.

The commission today held a security review meeting of all divisional commissioners, zonal inspector-generals of police, range deputy inspectors-general (DIGs), district magistrates, senior superintendents of police and superintendents of police of Saran, Tirhut, Darbhanga, Kosi and Purnea divisions at its office in the state capital.

State election commissioner H.C. Sirohi chaired the meeting. Sources said he asked the divisional commissioners, the zonal IGs and the DIGs to review the performance, including pooling of resources, to ensure better co-ordination on a daily basis and make a strategic planning of four-levels of security ring for the electoral process. The security ring would encompass forces at polling booths and local, zonal and sector-wise co-ordinated patrolling.

The sources said Sirohi directed the officials to ensure that the patrolling parties arrived at the nearest polling booths at the start and end of the poll. He also asked to ensure provision of control rooms with caller ID-equipped telephones to monitor polling, movement of electronic voting machines and eletion parties.

The officials were also asked to take a number of preventive measures to ensure peaceful and fair polling. The measures include execution of pending warrants, recovery of illegal arms and verification of licenced arms.

A strong vigil would also be kept on liquor shops across the state. The SEC requested the personnel to conduct raids on the illicit liquor-manufacturing units from Monday and particularly before and on the day of polling. Authorised liquor shops and warehouses would remain closed on dates notified by the SEC, including the date of polling and counting.

Joint election commissioner Ahibhushan Pandey told The Telegraph: “At least one havildar and four constables would be deployed at each polling booth. Section 144 would be imposed on the day of polling and counting, wherein movement of two-wheelers would be prohibited and four-wheelers would only be allowed for voting purpose. The four-wheelers should also be parked at a distance of 200 yards from the polling centre. Moreover, the candidates would have the liberty to visit the polling centres but not to talk or influence the voters in any manner otherwise FIRs can be lodged against them.”

Speaking at the meeting, the principal secretary of state urban development department, Shashi Shekhar Sharma, assured the election commission and other administrative officials that the department would meet all types of necessary electoral expenditures. “The officials from the districts should ask for whatever funds they require and upon the corresponding request from the SEC, the urban development department would ensure that the funds are released at the earliest,” Sharma said.