Piravom poll: 23 booths deemed sensitive

KOCHI: Twenty-three polling booths in the Piravom constituency have been identified as sensitive by the police on Friday. Among them, six are in Puthencruz circle, 15 in Piravom circle and two in Thrikkakkara circle. The polling booths which have been identified as sensitive are as follows: booths 38, 39, 40, 41, 48 and 63 in Puthencruz; booths 19, 23, 26, 31, 35, 44, 46, 58, 73, 35, 78, 94, 111, 127 and 131 in Piravom circle; and booths 1 and 4 in Thrikkakkara circle. Two booths in Irumbanam and four in Piravom were identified as highly-sensitive booths. A meeting convened by the top election officials on Friday said strignent measures will be in place to ensure smooth election process. On the previous day of the election and on the poll day, these booths will be under camera surveillance. Sensitive polling booths will be given priority in the webcast polling by the Election Commission, the officials said. Umakanth Panwar, General Observer for the Piravom bypoll, visited the constituency on Friday and reviewed the security arrangements. He went to various police stations and held discussions with officials in charge of the stations. Panwar also interacted with the general public at major points in the constituency. He also handed over to the District officials complaints that he received on flex-boards and other campaign materials put up in public places.