Pokhara, May 9 Authorities in the western region have stepped up security for elections. The western regional security committee said it has made provisions to facilitate quick access to security personnel anywhere in the region when required. “As security is very important, it has been so managed that security personnel will appear anywhere in the region within five minutes,” said western regional administrator Yam Kumari Khatiwada at a press conference organised by the committee in Pokhara today. She also urged all to report to the nearest security agency any untoward incident. Further, the regional administrator informed that election officers, election items and security personnel will reach the voting centres by tomorrow. “As the Election Office has trained all the election officers, they along with the election materials and security personnel will reach the voting centres by tomorrow,” she said, adding there will be also mobile patrols to keep tab on the most sensitive areas. According to sources, the regional administration office has assessed 555 out of 2156 voting centres in Province 4 as highly sensitive. Similarly, while 731 voting centres have been reckoned as sensitive, 870 others have been deemed as least sensitive in terms of security. The province comprises one metropolis, 24 municipalities and 58 rural municipalities. The province has a total of 1.4 million registered voters. Some 126 candidates have already been elected unopposed here. “As in some places, there is lack of basic infrastructure at the voting centres, I have directed the concerned authorities to manage road, electricity, telecommunications, internet and drinking water facility at the earliest,” said the regional administrator, adding that she is keeping a tab on activities at all voting centres. She also alerted candidates against violating the election code of conduct and pledged action if anyone was found guilty. On his part, Chief District Officer Hari Prasad Mainali of Kaski urged the voters to get their voters’ identity card to qualify to cast their ballot. “In case anyone doesn’t have the identity card, they can get the card from the voting centre itself from Thursday through Saturday,” he informed, also vowing to do the needful to hold elections in a free and fair manner. Regional Police Chief DIG Madhu Prasad Pudasaini pledged action against anyone intending to disturb the polls. He also urged voters to exercise their franchise without any fear. “So far we’ve arrested and filed cases against 16 persons who were trying to disrupt the elections,” he said, adding any such attempts wouldn’t be tolerated. “As for security, it has been beefed up even by bringing security personnel from other districts where elections are going to be held in the second phase,” Pudasaini said, adding that 18 security personnel would be deployed at each voting centre. Personnel from all three security bodies — Nepali Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force will be deployed.