The district police are on their toes with the faction-ridden Jammalamadugu and Pulivendula constituencies going for polls in the third phase of elections to be held on July 31.
Reviewing the poll arrangements, SP Manish Kumar Sinha said that four companies of central forces -- two from the neighbouring Karnataka and two from Centre -- have arrived for security arrangements for the third phase. “We won’t hesitate to even open fire on those who resort to violence or arson,’’ the SP warned.
Police pickets have been set up in faction-prone villages,. The SP asked the voters to inform police immediately about threats or allurements by candidates.Police bandobust have been intensified in Vempalle, Gopavaram, Somulavaripalle and Kottapalli.
Meanwhile, stage is set for the conduct of the last phase of panchayat polls in Madanapalle revenue division on July 31.
According to collector Solomon Arokiaraj, Madanapalle division comprising 31 mandals has 501 panchayats. However, polls will only be held to 469 panchayats as 30 of them went for unanimous selections and polls for two panchayats have been postponed due to court cases.
Altogether, there are 1,586 candidates in the fray for sarpanch posts. Similarly, elections will be held to 2,744 wards in the third phase, for which as many as 6,011 candidates have filed nominations.
Meanwhile, Chittoor SP Kanti Rana Tata said they are making elaborate bandobust for the smooth conduct of the polls. Two additional SPs, 20 DSPs, 102 CIs, 225 SIs and about 8,000 constables will be deployed in the poll-bound panchayats in Chittoor district as a part of the security bandobust, he said.