With crucial Assembly polls in Gujarat fast approaching, the Election Commission has despatched six teams of officials to check the progress in preparing electoral rolls and identify vulnerable areas in the state.

Each team comprising two officials has already left and will review the preparation of electoral rolls andElectoral Photo Identity Cards.

In order to conduct peaceful and fair elections, the EC had directed the chief electoral officer of Gujarat to carry out vulnerability mapping in all the districts to identify absentee voters, trouble mongers and to prepare a list of sensitive areas.

This is the second time that the EC is sending such a large number of officials to do groundwork for the polls in the state where the term of the assembly ends on December 26.

The officials, who will cover four districts, will return on September 21, EC sources said.

The commission has also sought a report from the state government on its directions issued a few days ago regarding transfer of officials posted in home districts for more than three years.