Elaborate security arrangements have been made in Maharashtra, where polling for 19 remaining Lok Sabha seats, including half a dozen in the financial capital, will take place on Thursday.
With nearly 3.18 crore voters eligible to exercise their franchise in the third and last phase of voting in the state, around one lakh armed security personnel will keep a hawk-eyed vigil to ensure peaceful, free and fair polling.
"We are ready with elaborate and foolproof security arrangements to ensure peaceful, free and fair polling on April 24," Additional Director General (Law and Order) K L Bishnoi said.
Steps have been taken to avert and foil any possible disturbance during polling by anti-social elements and special focus will be in Mumbai and adjoining Thane district.
According to police, 400 booths have been identified as sensitive and nearly 300 of them are in Mumbai alone.
Besides Maharashtra Police, contingents of Central Industries Security Force (CRPF), Rapid Action Force, State Reserve Police Force (SRPF) and Home Guards will be deployed. In all, about one lakh security personnel will be on poll duty, Inspector General (Law and Order) Deven Bharti said.
There will be 18 static surveillance teams and an equal number of flying squads in each constituency, he said.
The leaves of police personnel across the state have been cancelled, the senior official said.
A total of 34,343 polling stations have been set up in Mumbai, Thane, North Maharashtra, Konkan and Marathwada regions in the state, where the first and second phases of polling were held on April 10 and April 17 respectively.
Meanwhile, 32,501 security personnel will be on poll duty in Mumbai, where 9,879 booths have been set up, Police Commissioner Rakesh Maria said.
