Chhattisgarh polls: EC appoints police, awareness observers

Chhattisgarh will for the first time witness police and awareness observers during the polls to help manage the Assembly elections on 11 and 19 November effectively. “Awareness observers will be deployed in two phases for seven days and they will observe the decision-making process of poll officials and people’s participation on D-day"— a Times of India report said .[caption id=“attachment_1192363” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Poll bound. AFP[/caption] The decision of the Election Commission to deploy IPS officers as observers to keep a watch on the overall security scenario is also an unique step. “EC has decided to deploy IPS officers as police observers at the district level in all poll-bound states depending upon sensitivity. They will monitor activities relating force deployment, law and order situation and co-ordinate between civil and police administration to ensure free and fair election"— the Times of India quoted inspector general of police GP Singh as saying . Law and order is of primary importance in the state keeping the Maoists factor in mind. The counting of votes scheduled on 8 December.