Elaborate security arrangement for Bijepur by-poll tomorrow

Elaborate security arrangements have been made for tomorrow's by-poll in Bijepur Assembly constituency, especially in the wake of pre-poll violence in and around Bijepur area, officials said today.
Altogether 281 polling booths have been set up for the by-election, while 270 booths were there during the Assembly polls in 2014, Bargarh district Collector Yamini Sarangi said.
"Of the 281 booths, 155 have been identified as critical. We have 12 dedicated squads to ensure free and fair polling in all the places," Sarangi said adding that CCTV cameras have been put up in 20 booths.
The squads will rush to the booth concerned after receiving information on rigging and law and order, Bargarh SP Jai Narayan Pankaj said.

"Six check posts have also been set up in the border areas where vehicles coming from outside will be stopped and disallowed to enter Bijepur constituency," he added.
A series of violent incidents, including an attack on the brother of state Labour Minister Sushant Singh on yesterday night, has heightened the security perception ahead of the by-election.

A total of five companies (500 personnel) of Central Para Military Force along with one company (85 personnel) of Odisha Swift Action Force have been deployed on poll duty, Bargarh district ASP Jaswant Senapati told PTI.
This apart, 40 platoons (1200 personnel) of state armed police have been deployed on election duty, Bargarh district ASP Jaswant Senapati told PTI.

Odisha's Chief Electoral Officer S Kumar said efforts are on to engage more executive magistrates to oversee the law and order situation during the polling.
For the first time, Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines will be used in the Bijepur by-poll.
Polling would be held from 8 am to 5 pm, while votes would be counted on February 28.
The by-poll is necessitated due to death of Congress MLA Subal Sahu.
His wife Rita Sahu is now the nominee for the ruling BJD. There are 13 other candidates are in the fray including those of the BJP and the Congress.