JAKARTA, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Jakarta metropolitan police will deploy more than 16,000 personnel to secure gubernatorial election in the Indonesia's capital, police disclosed on Wednesday.
The plan was made as scores of hardliner groups insist on taking to the streets prior to the election day of Feb. 15, which have been barred by police.
"A total of 16,222 police personnel will be deployed with support from armed force and volunteers,"Jakarta police spokesman Senior Commissioner Argo Yuwono said.
The spokesman said that a total of about 3,000 polling stations would be the target of security.
Besides, the personnel would patrol to ensure the smooth running of the democratic activity, Yuwono said.
Competition for the Jakarta gubernatorial post has been tight since last year with involvement of hardliner groups in the campaign supporting one of the three candidates.
Three candidates, incumbent governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, a son of former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, and former Education Minister Anies Baswedan, are competing for the post.
