Rajkot, Dec 3: The companies of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) are staging flag marches in some sensitive areas of Gujarat ahead of the two-phased Assembly elections to be held on December 11 and 16.

The first batch of CRPF personnel together with the state police armed with guns marched through the  streets of Rajkot to instill confidence among voters and also to serve as a warning against intimidating voters.

Sudhir Sinha, Police Commissioner of Rajkot, said that paramilitary forces will be posted at booths set up in sensitive areas as well as in buildings having three or more polling booths.

"Advance company of CRPF is doing flag march, foot patrolling and also vehicle patrolling. Sixteen more companies will be coming by the 5 or 6 December. All of them will be deployed on buildings and booths. Before elections, they will be doing flag marches on sensitive routes in the city," said Sudhir Sinha.

Sinha added that this year around 110 Sector Magistrates, who would include officers from different departments, would be responsible for maintaining law and order.

Policemen and homeguards would assist them, Sinha added.

Over 36 million voters are expected to exercise their voting right to elect the 182-member assembly in Gujarat as the term of the state's legislative assembly is due to expire on December 26, 2007.

The counting of votes will take place on December 23.

The ruling BJP had managed to win 127 seats, while the Congress party was able to win only 51 seats in the 2002 Gujarat Assembly polls. The Janata Dal (United) and independents won two seats each. (ANI)