Elections of Parliamentary Constituency Robertsganj Presented By: Shri Ram Kumar, SSP/DIG, Allahabad, UP

Overview 80-Robertsganj=District sonbhadra+ Chakia (383) AC of Chandauli District. Population of sonbhadra: 15,04,852 No. of Electors:9,49,075 No. of Polling centres, booths: 882, 1151 Assembly Constituencies in Sonbhadra ◦ 400-Robertsganj ◦ 401-Ghorawal ◦ 402-Obra ◦ 403-Dudhi 3 Sub divisions 8 Blocks 16 Police Stations

LWE Problem 12 /16 Police Stations LWE affected 273 of 1378 villages LWE affected Sone-Ganga-Windhyachal Zone of CPI(Maoist) Bordering Districts, States ◦ Kaimur, Bihar ◦ Rohtas, Bihar ◦ Garhwa, Jharkhand ◦ Sarguja, Chhattisgarh ◦ Singrauli, Madhya Pradesh ◦ Sidhi, Madhya Pradesh ◦ Mirzapur, UP ◦ Chandauli, UP All neighboring districts are LWE affected.

Preparations Identification of critical booths ◦ LWE affected ◦ Other reasons Preventive measures regarding LWE ◦ Preparations started in 2008 itself ◦ Area domination through temporary camps, LRP parties ◦ 36 Naxals arrested, zonal commander killed in an encounter during ◦ Huge amount of explosives including 1 truck ammonium nitrate, gelatin rods, electronic detonators, prepared IEDs, 1 SLR, other arms and ammunitions recovered. ◦ 4 IEDs recovered on just prior to elections on in Basuhari area.

Preparations Continued… Preventive measures regarding LWE Continued…. ◦ Community policing in affected area. ◦ Tracking naxal parties through network of informers and surveillance in neighboring districts ◦ Dedicated and well equipped SOG team. Preventive measures Law and Order/Crime ◦ Identifications of disturbing elements and actions. ◦ Identifications of disputes and their disposals. ◦ Arms deposits ◦ Raids for illicit liquor, illegal arms, wanted criminals etc.

Preparations continued.. Force allotment and disposition ◦ 6 coys CPMF+5 coys PAC allotted. ◦ Internal force holding:3 coys CPMF+7 coys PAC ◦ Total: 9 coys CPMF + 12 coys PAC ◦ In coys CPMF was allotted ◦ Static security  16 Police Stations  19 permanent Out Posts/Camping Grounds  3 Temporary Camping Grounds  61 critically sensitive Polling booths

Preparations Continued… Mobile Security ◦ 7 Flying squads ◦ 12 Critical Sectors(Motorcycle squads) ◦ 16 Critical Sectors(Long Range Patrolling Parties) ◦ 16 Police Station mobiles( Law and Order) ◦ 102 sector and 21 zonal mobiles Barriers ◦ 14 intestate and intrastate barriers

Preparations continued.. Communication plan ◦ Wireless grid -2 channels used ◦ Mobile phone numbers of security staff included in the duty booklet and duty cards ◦ Static sets on 14 booths ◦ Hand held sets on 69 booths ◦ satellite phones to 4 critical sector parties ◦ GPS handheld wireless sets to 20 mobile parties ◦ All vehicles on wireless grid ◦ S-7 Scheme directory- 7 mobile numbers from each village compiled in a directory

Strategy on Election day Flush out Naxals before election commences on –achieved. Neutralize their planning to attack or trap force during elections- achieved by recovering 4 powerful IED just before the election day. Keep the routes clear and borders covered during election day and movement of polling parties. Keep evacuation and ATS/STF team ready in case of any incident.

Timing, Phasing Simultaneous elections in all LWE affected PCs reduced Naxal’s effectiveness. Force has highest alertness in the first phase. Time duration is more in naxal area in first phase. Due to dry season roads availability was the best, facilitating mobility.

Suggestions 3 years posting limit shall be discontinued in naxal affected areas as ◦ knowledge of terrain, informers and the local issues is of importance against naxal parties. ◦ Not every police personal is motivated enough to work against naxals. Great difficulties were faced in replacing the knowledgebase and motivation against naxals. ◦ EC can check credentials of persons in case of doubt. Helicopters and satellite phones are useful and boosted morale of the force. It shall be made available to track Naxal parties even before the election day so that they can be detected and chased out earlier.

Suggestions continued.. Perception of large force availability during elections is very important than actual allocation. Duration of the force for area domination shall be increased before elections. Enhanced TA/DA shall be given to the force in LWE affected area.

Limitations BSNL network coverage very poor despite instructions. Instruction regarding Force deployment shall be finalized well in advance. Election time was during peak summers. Drinking water problem occurred due to Modal code of Conduct.

Thank You