The Uttar Pradesh Police has decided to invoke the National Security Act (NSA) against troublemakers during the Panchayat polla in September-October, an official said on Wednesday.
The police have also been directed to slap the Gangster Act on anti-social elements who try to disrupt the elections as the political stakes are likely to be high in the local body polls.
Both the ruling Samajwadi Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will contest the polls at different levels.
Principal Secretary (Home) Devasheesh Panda said the government was determined and committed to holding free and fair elections.