Thursday, January 15, 2009

Close circuit cameras in sensitive booths in Orissa: EC

The Hindu, Jan 15, 2009

Berhampur (Orissa)(PTI): Close circuit cameras would be installed in sensitive booths of Orissa during the coming general elections, Election Commissioner Navin B Chawla said here on Wednesday.

"The election commission will take all possible measures to ensure a trouble-free voting in the coming elections," Chawla told reporters after reviewing situation in ten districts of southern parts of the state.

Stating that a peaceful election was recently held in Jammu and Kashmir, Chawla said that the Election Commission was always prepared for the polls.

Claiming that India was the first country in the world to issue photo identity cards (PICs) to electorates, he said that so far about 480 million people or 75 per cent of the voters had been provided with the PICs. In Orissa, the ratio was 85 per cent, he said.

The revised electoral roll in the state, he said, would be published on Thursday, sources said.

Chawla said the Election Commission was aware of the Naxalite problems in several districts of Orissa. "Not only Orissa, some other states are also facing the similar situation. Voting will take place in tight security," he said adding that election was incident free in another worst Naxal-affected state like Chhatishgarh.

The district collectors of Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Kandhamal, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Boudh, Malkangiri, Nawrangpur and Koraput attended the review meeting of Chawla.

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