Chennai: Tamil Nadu police have set up a dedicated cell to monitor poll-related violations, coordinate security arrangements, and enforce the model code of conduct in the state, where assembly elections are likely to be announced anytime now. It will function in full swing on the directions of the Election Commission of India (ECI) once the model code comes into effect.Additional director general of police (ADGP), state headquarters, Senthil Kumar was named the election cell officer. Offices of the cell have been set up at the police headquarters and at the State Election Commission office. Every police commissionerate, district collectorate, and district police superintendent’s office will have an election cell.The state police headquarters office deployed 60 to 75 police personnel, including ministerial staff. Each district headquarters will have 12 to 15 personnel, commissionerates will have 25 personnel, and city commissionerates will have 40 to 50 personnel. A police officer said one-third of the personnel assigned to the election cell have experience in election-related work. The election cell will identify vulnerable and critical polling booths based on data analysis. Vulnerable booths are identified based on caste and political dominance; critical booths are those where booth capturing or violence has been reported. The cell will recommend deployment of Central Armed Police Forces at such locations based on ground situation.Cell officials will determine the number of police personnel to be deployed within 100 and 200 metres of polling stations. Rowdies out on bail will be monitored, and arms and ammunition will be collected from the public. Police deployed at the election cell will undergo training on handling election-related duties.
