As per reports, the following are the updates on security measures implemented in Kerala ahead of the assembly elections scheduled on Thursday (09 April):

• The Election Commission has reportedly deemed around 2040 polling stations across Kerala as critical, where additional police force will be deployed to prevent untoward incidents during the assembly elections. A total of 76,203 personnel, including 28,209 Special Police Officers, will be deployed across 30,471 polling booths in the state, including 2,500 sensitive locations.
• The majority of critical stations are concentrated in the northern districts, with Kannur reporting the highest number at 771, followed by Kozhikode with 312, Kasaragod accounts for 238 critical stations, while Kollam has 189. At highly sensitive Category A booths, four central force personnel will be stationed at each location, while Category B booths will have two personnel each, supported by additional police presence.
• In addition, the police will further engage in effective precautions in selected polling stations that fall in areas which were earlier classified as Left-wing extremism-affected areas, with increased security measures in certain hamlets in Kannur, Kozhikode, Malappuram, and Palakkad districts, and combing operations underway to deal with any potential threats.
• Around 67,000 police personnel, including special police officers and central forces, will be deployed for election duty, while as many as 140 companies of central armed police forces will also be deployed across the state.
• Approximately 34,000 Kerala Police personnel, 20,000 Special Police Officers, and 1,500 personnel from the Tamil Nadu Police will be deployed for security arrangements. Additional strike units from the local police will be stationed at critical polling stations, and authorities will also implement further security measures as required to address any contingencies.
• Meanwhile, a prohibitory order has been declared in Kannur district till midnight hours on Thursday (09 April), and the District Collector Arun K Vijayan further announced that unauthorized gatherings and public meetings have been banned.
• In addition to district police personnel, 37 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) have been deployed in Kannur district to strengthen security. Special teams comprising CAPF personnel will be stationed at 771 sensitive booths across the district. Furthermore, 493 micro-observers have been deployed at various vulnerable polling stations to ensure close monitoring.