Chennai: With Tamil Nadu heading towards the Assembly elections scheduled for April 23, the Election Commission and state police have stepped up security arrangements across all 234 constituencies to ensure peaceful and incident-free polling.
As part of preventive policing, authorities have placed nearly 20,000 history-sheeters and habitual offenders under close surveillance across the state.
According to senior police officials, these individuals-commonly referred to as "rowdies"-have been identified and categorised into four groups, A+, A, B, and C, depending on the severity of their criminal history and potential threat level. The categorisation is part of a wider strategy to monitor and control elements that could possibly disrupt law and order during the election period.
Chennai alone accounts for around 4,000 such individuals, with a significant number currently absconding. Police officials have expressed concern that some of them may attempt to return to their native areas during the election period and engage in unlawful activities, influence voters, or create disturbances near polling stations.
To counter these risks, special police teams have been deployed across all 38 districts in Tamil Nadu. These teams are actively engaged in intelligence gathering, surveillance, and search operations aimed at tracking down absconding offenders. So far, around 100 individuals have already been traced and detained as part of preventive action.
Authorities are also planning legal preventive measures under Sections 107, 109, and 110 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. These provisions empower the police to take action against individuals who are likely to disturb public peace, including requiring them to furnish bonds for good behaviour during the election period.
Alongside strict enforcement, officials have indicated a parallel reform-oriented approach. Individuals who demonstrate willingness to reform may be considered for rehabilitation measures, including the issuance of good conduct certificates under specific conditions.
Senior police officials have emphasised that Tamil Nadu has historically conducted elections in a largely peaceful manner, with minimal instances of major law-and-order disturbances. With the current multi-layered security strategy in place, authorities have expressed confidence that the upcoming elections will proceed smoothly, ensuring voter safety and maintaining the integrity of the democratic process.