KARACHI, April 29: The Inspector-General of the Sindh Police, Syed Kamal Shah, has ordered police officials to take strict action under the law against miscreants and subversive elements in case they put any hurdles to the conduct of polling for the referendum.

The IG issued the instructions during his visit to different Towns of the city to take stock of the security arrangements made for holding referendum in a peaceful atmosphere. He asked police functionaries, deployed at polling stations in uniform as well as in plain clothes, to remain alert and keep strict vigil on elements who might try to disturb polling.

He also instructed that thorough checking of motorcyclists be conducted. The Town Police Officers were directed to remain present in their respective areas round the clock along with SDPOs and SHOs and keep him informed of the latest situation.

Mr Shah instructed that motorcycle patrolling should also be carried out round the clock and any person found with weapons be arrested immediately. Intelligence network be expanded and all the important public and private buildings, places of worship, airport, railway stations, bus stands, polling stations, etc. be kept under secret surveillance.

Earlier, presiding over a meeting at the police head office, the IG ordered deployment of commandos and installation of video cameras at sensitive places so that video films could be made for identification of subversive elements.

The meeting was informed that aerial patrolling with zoom-camera fitted helicopter will be carried out whole the day in Karachi and the interior of the province during the referendum. The IG declared red alert for the Bomb Disposal Squad, Special Branch, CID and Investigation Unit, and the traffic police were instructed to ensure smooth flow of traffic so that voters did not face any difficulty in reaching polling stations.—PPI