Kannur: A massive security apparatus has been rolled out in Kannur district, which has the highest number of sensitive booths in the state. Of the 2,513 booths classified as sensitive in the local body elections, 1,025 are in Kannur. Polling in the district will take place on Thursday.

Considering the possibility of violence in these polling stations, over 5,000 police personnel have been deployed to ensure heightened security and close monitoring. At all sensitive booths, a web-casting system implemented by Keltron will be operational.

Among the sensitive booths, 602 fall under the jurisdiction of the Kannur City Police, while the Rural Police are responsible for 423. These include both sensitive and highly sensitive booths. Police officials said they are focused on preventing untoward incidents on polling day.

A total of 2,500 police personnel have been deployed in the city limits, while 2,600 have been posted in rural areas. Additionally, 125 members of the Rapid Action Force have been stationed in the district.

In areas facing a Maoist threat, a 150-member Special Operations team has also been deployed. Security forces carried out route marches in various locations. In the district, 50 booths have been designated as “prone to Maoist threat,” of which 21 fall under the Iritty police subdivision. Most polling stations facing a Maoist threat are located in the Aralam, Ayyankunnu, and Ulikkal panchayats.

A police report states that one out of every six booths in the Iritty police subdivision is sensitive. The subdivision has a total of 170 booths, of which 25 are highly sensitive and 10 are sensitive. In the Muzhakunnu police station limits, as many as 80 per cent of the booths have been identified as sensitive.

A control room has been set up at the District Collectorate for real-time monitoring of polling booths where web-casting is in place. The system includes six large screens and 60 laptops for continuous live monitoring. A total of 153 officials have been assigned to operate the control room.

As polling begins on December 11, web-casting from the booths will start with the mock poll in the morning. The control room will begin functioning at 5.30 am, and visuals will be monitored continuously until polling concludes. Each computer system will be able to track visuals from 18 booths.

Meanwhile, authorities are relieved that Kannur—known for its long history of political clashes—has not witnessed any major violence during the election campaign. Police remain focused on preventing any disturbances on polling day and on the counting day.