Updated on Wednesday, November 26, 2008, 00:00 IST

Bhopal, Nov 25: As many as 250 companies of police force have been made for the November 27 Assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh.

The force was drawn from Central Reserve Forces, MP Police, Special Armed Force and from 11 states -- Punjab, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Karnataka, Bihar, West Bengal and Tripura -- for conducting free and fair polls in the state, an official release said today.

A total of 47,209 polling booths were established in the state. Among them 12,500 booths are identified as "critical" by the Election Commission.

A mobile van each will be deployed for conducting continuous patrolling in a cluster of 15 booths.

Borders along the neighbouring states have been sealed and 2.17 lakh licenced weapons were deposited in different police stations of the state for ensuring smooth polls.

Police also asked 3.26 lakh habitual offenders to sign a bond that they will not indulge in any illegal activity during the polls and also externed 2,000 criminals from various districts in the state.

Besides, police also seized 3,887 illegal weapons from different people to ensure that they are not being misused during the polls.

Bureau Report