4,000 armed forces for Noida bypoll

NOIDA: Over 4,000 paramilitary and police personnel will be deployed in Noida for the September 13 assembly bypoll, according to a security plan drawn up by the administration on Wednesday, which also happened to be the last day for filing nominations.
Traffic jams were reported in various parts of the city as 10 candidates — Vimla Batham of BJP, Kajal Sharma of SP and Rajendra Awana of Congress — accompanied by supporters submitted their nomination papers.But the fissures in Congress showed up again as Awana found it difficult to complete the nomination process. Sources said local leaders were unhappy with the party's choice of candidate.
"Even on the day of nomination, he found difficult to arrange a proposer," said a senior leader.
According to the papers, the BJP and SP candidates have no criminal cases against them but a criminal case is pending against Awana in Sangam Vihar police station in south Delhi.
Kajal Sharma was accompanied by cabinet-rank minister Narad Rai, Surender Singh Nagar, former cabinet minister Narender Bhati, MLA Guddu Pandit, her husband, and other supporters. Vimla Batham was accompanied by Gautam Budh Nagar MP Mahesh Sharma.
BJP supporters had a heated argument with police and administration officials when they did not allow Sharma to enter the room where nominations were being filed. Several BJP workers and leaders reportedly attempted to scale the barricades. "We will not allow any political party or candidate to violate the model code of conduct.
If anybody is found guilty, stringent action will be taken," said returning officer Rajesh Yadav.
The security plan was finalized at a meeting the administration held with the police. An official said voting will take place in 461 polling booths for the Noida assembly seat, which fell vacant after MLA Mahesh Sharma won the Lok Sabha election
. "Each polling booth will have 95% armed central paramilitary and PAC personnel and police from neighboring districts," the official said.
SP Yogesh Singh said eight sensitive and four critical polling centres have been identified. "These will be guarded entirely by paramilitary personnel," Singh said. To ensure peaceful polls, six companies of PAC and central paramilitary forces will be deployed. Assisting them will be 250 sub-inspectors, 12 SHOs, 260 head constables, 1,300 constables and 1,100 home guards."