<p>Superintendent of Police Harish Pande said that security will be strengthened in Maoist-affected areas and sensitive areas in Chikkamagaluru district ahead of Lok Sabha polls. </p>.<p class="title">Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, he said 1,008 rowdy-sheeters have been identified in the district. Around 2,000 police personnel will be deployed for maintaining law and order. Paramilitary forces will also be deployed. </p>.<p class="title">He said a special campaign will be carried out in Maoist affected areas. Public meetings will be organised to create awareness on exercising franchise in a democracy. Combing operations will be continued in the Maoist-affected areas. </p>.<p class="title">CCTV cameras will be installed at check posts. All precautionary measures have been taken to conduct the election in a peaceful manner. </p>.<p class="title">The SP said that bottles that were used for filling kerosene to set fire to a forest check post at Basarikallu in Kalasa were supplied to MSIL four days before the incident. </p>.<p class="title">"It was not an act by the Maoists. The police are collecting evidence to arrest a few suspects in the case." </p>.<p class="title">The SP said that a total of 66 criminal cases were registered during 2013 Assembly elections, 2018 Assembly elections and 2014 Lok Sabha elections, of which, 15 cases have been convicted.</p>.<p class="title">The investigation is in progress in 24 cases while nine cases have been dismissed due to various reasons and 18 cases the accused have been acquitted, he explained.</p>
<p>Superintendent of Police Harish Pande said that security will be strengthened in Maoist-affected areas and sensitive areas in Chikkamagaluru district ahead of Lok Sabha polls. </p>.<p class="title">Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, he said 1,008 rowdy-sheeters have been identified in the district. Around 2,000 police personnel will be deployed for maintaining law and order. Paramilitary forces will also be deployed. </p>.<p class="title">He said a special campaign will be carried out in Maoist affected areas. Public meetings will be organised to create awareness on exercising franchise in a democracy. Combing operations will be continued in the Maoist-affected areas. </p>.<p class="title">CCTV cameras will be installed at check posts. All precautionary measures have been taken to conduct the election in a peaceful manner. </p>.<p class="title">The SP said that bottles that were used for filling kerosene to set fire to a forest check post at Basarikallu in Kalasa were supplied to MSIL four days before the incident. </p>.<p class="title">"It was not an act by the Maoists. The police are collecting evidence to arrest a few suspects in the case." </p>.<p class="title">The SP said that a total of 66 criminal cases were registered during 2013 Assembly elections, 2018 Assembly elections and 2014 Lok Sabha elections, of which, 15 cases have been convicted.</p>.<p class="title">The investigation is in progress in 24 cases while nine cases have been dismissed due to various reasons and 18 cases the accused have been acquitted, he explained.</p>