Around 50,000 Punjab police personnel will be on duty during Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections here slated to be held on September 19, officials said Monday.
"Adequate security arrangements are being made for the polls. There will be a deployment of 50,000 Punjab police personnel during the elections," said V K Bhawra, director general of Punjab police (provisioning and modernisation).
The Akali Dal had earlier sought deployment of paramilitary forces for ensuring free and fair polls. Opposition parties -- AAP, Akali Dal and BJP -- had accused the state government of "murdering democracy" for allegedly stopping their candidates from participating in the upcoming polls by resorting to hooliganism.
Meanwhile, the state government has declared a holiday on September 19 in the wake of the polls. All government offices, corporations and schools will be closed on the day, an official spokesman said.
The counting of votes will take place on September 22. A total of 17,268 polling booths will be set up and 86,340 personnel will be put on election duty. A total of 35 observers will be appointed to ensure peaceful conduct of the polls, officials said.
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