The men in charge, District Magistrate Krishan Kumar and Superintendent P Praveen Kumar (both belong to the 2002 civil services batch), are confident that elections 2009 in Kandhamal wll be free and fair and devoid of any poll-related violence.
The SP has spent a hectic day in the district but is still energetic as he speaks to rediff.com late in the night at the district headquarters, Phulbani.
"Our poll preparation is centred on five important components," Praveen Kumar informs us.
"Booth level arrangements, mobile patrolling along designated sectors, area domination in view of the communal situation in the district, VIP bandobast (Rahul Gandhi had visited Baliguda on April 8 and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is expected in Raikia on Friday) and Naxal-oriented patrolling," he says elaborating on the extensive preparation that he and his team led by the DM has made for the peaceful conduct of Lok Sabha and legislative assembly elections.
The SP, however, remained tight-lipped when asked for more details because of security reasons. "However, we have sufficient forces and a special plan which I cannot disclose to tackle any eventuality," he says cryptically.
Kandhamal district comprises the Kandhamal Lok Sabha constituency and three assembly segments: G Udaigiri, Phulbani and Baliguda.
Image: Kandhamal Superintendent of Police Praveen Kumar
Also see: Naveen Patnaik's master stroke in Orissa | India Votes 2009
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