Samastipur district in Bihar has implemented extensive security and surveillance measures to ensure fair and transparent assembly elections. The district administration has installed two CCTV cameras at each of the 3,603 polling stations across 10 assembly constituencies. A control room has been set up at the NIC office in the collectorate to monitor all camera feeds continuously. District Election Officer and District Magistrate Roshan Kushwaha stated these arrangements follow Election Commission directives. The high-tech cameras feature both video and audio recording capabilities. This webcasting system is being used for the first time to address complaints about voter intimidation outside polling stations. Staff members work in three shifts at the control room. Paramilitary and semi-military forces have been deployed at sensitive polling locations. The district administration has been preparing for these elections over the past three to four months, with international observers also scheduled to monitor the process.
Surveillance System and Control Room Operations
At each polling station, one camera monitors the exterior while another covers the interior premises. A dedicated control room has been established in the NIC office at the collectorate to supervise all camera feeds. Staff members have been deployed in three shifts to ensure round-the-clock monitoring. This comprehensive surveillance system marks the first time such extensive webcasting arrangements have been made for elections in the district. The Election Commission directed this setup after receiving continuous complaints about voters being pressured to vote for specific candidates outside polling stations. The advanced cameras installed provide both video and audio recording features, enabling complete documentation of activities at every polling location throughout the voting process.
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