Lok Sabha elections: Police identify 250 booths vulnerable to Left-wing extremism in Kerala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The police have identified as many as 250 polling booths, which come under Left-wing extremism (LWE) affected areas in Wayanad, Malappuram, Kannur, Kozhikode and Palakkad. According to sources, additional forces need to be deployed in these areas.
According to top police department sources, this include around 70 booths each in Wayanad and Malappuram, which have the highest number of booths that fall into the category.These places include Vythiri (which is on the main road from Kozhikode to Wayanad), Meppadi, Thirunelli, Thalappuzha, Kelakam, Aaralam, Karikkottakkari, Payyavoor, Vazhikkadavu, Nilambur and regions near Attapadi.
The state police and intelligence together with special protection group and Intelligence Bureau are drawing up plans on VIP movement, especially in the wake of Congress president Rahul Gandhi contesting in Wayanad.
As per the police sources, there is information that Maoists might retaliate for the encounter killing of their cadre C P Jaleel at Vythiri. “Though the central team has its own inputs for stepping up the security apparatus in Wayanad, the state police hold the primary responsibility of the security of SPG-protected VIPs and others,” sources said.
The police are stepping up security against all possible threats including plugging any possibility of a road attack, impersonation by the attackers and presence of explosive devices in the route or in the vicinity of the places being visited by the VIPs. Complexity of the terrain and the roads and availability of side roads that can be used for evacuation of the VIPs, in case of any untoward incidents, will be assessed. Thorough frisking of every person who is approaching the VIPs will be ensured.
“The advance security liaison (ASL) with the local authorities by the SPG and the Intelligence Bureau officials have been completed, in which all the basic requirements and concerns have been discussed,” top sources said. The overall terrain of Wayanad is what the authorities cite for restricting the movement of VIPs. Unlike in other areas, there are hardly any safe exit routes available for evacuation in Wayanad. These kinds of terrains are usually not preferred from a security angle, sources added.