Udupi  : Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) along with the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines from all the eight Assembly segments of Udupi-Chikkamagaluru parliamentary constituency were brought from the Demustering Centres and kept in strong rooms at St. Cecily’s School, the counting centre, here on Friday.

The EVMs along with VVPATs from all the Assembly segments had reached the St. Cecily’s School here by evening. The EVMs of each one of the eight Assembly segments had been kept in individual strong rooms at the school. Two strong rooms are required for every Assembly segment. The strong rooms were then locked and sealed.

To prevent any untoward incident, short circuit or accidental outbreak of fire, the power connection to all strong rooms has been cut off. As part of the security arrangements, CCTV cameras have been installed at all vital locations of the school. The Central Paramilitary Force and the district police are keeping round-the-clock vigil around the school building.

Metal detectors have been installed at the entrances to the buildings housing the strong rooms at the counting centre. Only authorised persons can enter the school premises.

The police have put up barricades at all important points on the roads leading to the school. The seals of the strong rooms would be opened only on the day of counting of votes on May 23.

A unit each of the Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP) and the Central Reserve Police Force, two units of the District Armed Reserve Police, an Anti-Sabotage Squad, have been deployed at the counting centre.

The outer layer of security is being manned by a Deputy Superintendent of Police, a Circle Inspector, two Sub-Inspectors and 69 policemen working on shifts.