1984 batch Haryana cadre IAS officer Navraj Sandhu who has recently been appointed as Additional Chief Secretary (Home) says that all the preparations regarding State Assembly elections are being done by following the guidelines of Election Commission of India. Police is busy identifying the ‘critical’ and ‘vulnerable’ polling stations and polling booths across the State. A proposal regarding deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) to be needed during Assembly election in the State will be sent to central government to ensure peaceful election. She said district police officers have been directed to take prompt action on the issues related to crime and law and order arising out of local politics.
With Sandhu’s appointment as Home Secretary, it’s the first time that women officers hold all three top important posts of the State administration. Recently, Keshni Anand Arora was appointed as Chief Secretary of the State. Sandhu is next to Arora in the seniority list of IAS officers in the state. Her retirement is due in November this year.
Moreover, as per reports, more than 2,700 booths were identified as sensitive. Video cameras and CCTV cameras were installed for monitoring the election process. The Haryana Police in the past three years have, on an average, recovered almost six illegal pistols a day. This is in addition to unlawful guns, revolvers, country-made weapons, double-barrelled guns and rifles recovered by the police.
As Haryana gears up for the Assembly elections, Intelligence and law enforcement agencies are anxious over the abnormally high number of illegal firearms in the state, predominantly because of the incidents of firing and brazen display of arms by gangsters on social networking sites. In an exclusive interview with The Pioneer, Home Secretary Sandhu reveals State’s preparations for the Assembly polls. Excerpts from the interview:
The date of Assembly election will be declared by the Election Commission of India anytime now. Have you completed all the preparations regarding elections? How challenging the Haryana Assembly election is going to be?
I do not know when the election date will be declared. But as per the guidelines of the Election Commission, all the necessary steps are being taken. Law and order in the state is under control. Senior police officers have been directed to intensify police patrolling and go for constant checking of the inter-district and inter-state posts apart from putting police team active and alert.
How many polling booths and polling centres are sensitive and ultra sensitive in the State?
The sensitivity of polling booths during election depends on various factors like crime graph, communal tensions, political turmoil and character of the candidates. The district police heads have been directed to try all means to keep things under control as far as the sensitive and ultra- sensitive polling booths are concerned. Police must act in accordance with the records of the past elections.
How many companies of Central Police forces the State would be needed to conduct free and fair Assembly election?
The police officers were directed to estimate number of police personnel which will be deployed in the Assembly election. They need to estimate number of additional police forces which will be deployed in sensitive polling stations and ultra-sensitive polling booths for peaceful conduct of the election. Additionally, police have been directed to be alert over the political parties inciting trouble ahead of the election, seeking mileage from them. Police have been directed to make final report on identification of critical and vulnerable polling booths and polling centres. Apart from this, they have been directed to prepare data on polling centres, deployment of police forces and demand of more police forces so that things can be sorted out methodically.
What are the preventive steps being taken ahead of Assembly polls?
To ensure smooth conduct of the Vidhan Sabha elections, Haryana Police have already launched a crackdown on wanted criminals and notorious elements in the state. This drive has been aimed at arresting criminals and to unearth illicit arms/liquor/narcotic substances throughout the State. All the Commissioners of Police and district Superintendents of Police have been directed to nail down the warrantees, other criminals and notorious elements in their respective areas. This would help in keeping the crime under check and put the criminals behind bars. The special drive has also been focused on arrest of proclaimed offenders, bail jumpers, parole or furlough jumpers, most-wanted criminals, convicts who have not surrendered after rejection of their appeals by different courts, bad characters, unearthing of illicit arms, seizure of illicit liquor and narcotics substances and execution of non bailable warrants. All out efforts were being made to prevent and control heinous crime by intensifying police patrolling and maintain vigilance in the State. Police will continue to vigorously enforce the law, pursue the campaign against drugs and prevent crimes to ensure safety and security of people.
Illegal drugs and liquor is being used during elections. What steps have you taken to put a check on it?
In line with the government’s commitment to make Haryana a drug-free state, the state Police have registered 166 cases and arrested 254 persons under NDPS Act in Fatehabad district alone between June 1 and August 31, 2019. Huge quantity of drugs worth crores of rupees has also been seized during this period. The senior police officers have already been directed to intensify police patrolling and go for constant checking of the inter-district and inter-state posts.
It has been seen that political parties are using all means to win the election. Money and muscle power are commonly used. What are the steps being taken regarding this issue?
Various departments are involved in conducting peaceful election in the state. Like other departments would execute their works, Police department will also ensure that no illegal activities are being done by anyone.
What are the other steps have been taken regarding peaceful elections?
Instruction had been earlier issued for district police chiefs that the police station officers would conduct verification drives in hotels, other commercial establishments and residences in various localities to stop undesirable elements from staying in their jurisdiction. Besides, they would be alert at the places known as communally vulnerable. The police officers have been directed to ensure fool-proof security at markets, bus stands, railway stations, cinemas and the like.
