Amaravati: The Election Commission (EC) has given directions to district election authorities to fortify all strong rooms where Electronic Voting Machines (EVM)were kept after the polling process was completed in the state of Andhra Pradesh.

The EC has instructed for a five-layer security from the existing three layers. The EC had asked for the increase in safety for the strong rooms to allay fears among political parties and candidates.

First layer

A 24x7 vigil by central armed forces are kept at the entrance door of all the strong rooms.A log book is kept at the entrance for officials to sign before they enter the strong room.This would also include the district election authorities also.The district election authority or returning officer can enter the strong room only in the presence of candidates or their polling agents. The election officials can inspect the security arrangements only from outside the strong rooms.

Second layer

The AP Special Police (APSP) will guard the building blocks of the strong rooms from outside.

Third layer

Local police have also been deployed for additional security outside the buildings of the strong rooms.

Fourth layer

The strong rooms are also put under the Closed Circuit (CC) Cameras surveillance. For added transparency to the security arrangements , candidates could also be given access to the CCTV footage. In case they find any breaches, they could alert the election authorities.

Fifth layer

Strong rooms will be soon fenced with a thick barbed wire mesh. The officials are also considering to fix alarms to the barbed meshes in case of any attempt to enter the strong rooms at the entrance of the building itself.

It may be recollected that the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) Chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy had sought the Governor ESL Narasimhan's intervention for additional security for the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in view of the law and order situation deteriorating in Andhra Pradesh during the elections phase.

YS Jagan Mohan Reddy demanded deployment of paramilitary forces at strong rooms for the security of EVMs. He said the Centre should keep constant vigil with routine monitoring of CCTV footage by the Chief Election Commissioner and the Chief Electoral Officer.

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