Police personnel are prohibited from taking leave from May 2nd; DGP Sandeep Rai Rathore issued the order.
Tamil Nadu: Security has been tightened in the state in anticipation of the counting of votes for the assembly elections. In this regard, Director General of Tamil Nadu Police, Sandeep Roy Rathore, has issued an important order prohibiting police officers and personnel from taking leave from May 2nd. This step has been taken in view of the counting of votes scheduled for May 4th and the security arrangements related to it.
Voting for the 234 assembly seats in the state concluded on the 23rd. After the completion of the voting process, electronic voting machines have been kept safe in the strong rooms of 62 counting centers across the state. Armed police have been deployed at all these centers for 24-hour security.
Security at these counting centers is divided into three tiers: paramilitary forces, the Tamil Nadu Special Police Force, and local police and armed police forces. In total, approximately 1,000 personnel are on duty continuously in three shifts. Approximately 18,000 security personnel have been deployed across the state to secure these 62 polling centers.
The administration is on high alert to ensure no security lapses occur on counting day. Keeping this in mind, DGP Sandeep Roy Rathore sent a circular to all police commissioners and district police superintendents on Wednesday. This circular clearly states that no police officer or employee will be granted general leave, medical leave, or maternity leave from May 2nd.
The order also states that leave will be considered only in extremely urgent and emergency situations, and that too only after the permission of the concerned police commissioner or district superintendent. All officers have been instructed to ensure that there are no lapses in security arrangements.
The police department has also warned that any personnel who remain absent from duty without a valid reason or take unauthorized leave will face departmental disciplinary action.
The purpose of this entire order is to ensure a peaceful and safe vote counting process. Security has been given top priority at both the state government and police administration levels to avoid any untoward incidents.
The political atmosphere in Tamil Nadu remains on high alert amid heavy security arrangements and strict monitoring during the vote counting.
