For optimum utilisation of the available police force and requirement of additional forces for the upcoming Lok Sabha election, Uttarakhand police have conducted a manpower audit in all the districts of  the state. The inspector general (IG) police, Deepam Seth said that based on the finding of the audit, 16000 personnel belonging to state police, CID, vigilance, fire and traffic have been drawn in for the election duty. He further informed that 17,500 home guards would be deployed during the election out of which 4,500 are from Uttarakhand while  the remaining 13,000 would be brought from  the neighbouring states like Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan. Similarly, 5000 personnel of PRD and forest guards would also be deployed in the election.

Seth informed the 300 personnel of SDRF and 21 companies of PAC would also be deployed to ensure glitch-free poll. He said that the state has already received 30 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and the Union government would send 35 more companies for the state.

IG said that the commission has so far identified 704 vulnerable and 1200 critical polling booths in the state. In the vulnerable booths, CAF personnel would be deployed apart from the local police personnel while in the critical booths PAC would be deployed. He further said that 98 police barriers have been placed on the interstate boundaries.

IG said that many rounds of meetings with the police officers of the neighbouring states have already taken place and a common action plan for the upcoming elections has been firmed up. For fast flow of information whatsApp groups have been created, he said.  Seth further informed that the state police have identified 350 shadow areas which are not covered with normal mode of communications and alternate arrangements are being made in these predominately remote and snow- covered areas. He said that after the enforcement of the model code of conduct, action against 215 persons under Gunda Act has been taken.