Karnataka polls: ECI directs state teams to enhance vigil across 185 inter-state checkposts | Karnataka Election News
NEW DELHI: The Election Commission on Monday held a detailed review of the poll arrangements in Karnataka with the chief secretaries and DGPs of Karnataka as well as its six bordering states, namely, Goa, Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The exercise was aimed at law and order coordination as well as putting a check on inter-state movement of inducements like illegal, cash, liquor, drugs and freebies etc.
Chief election commissioner Rajiv Kumar, during the video conference also attended by nodal police officers, CAPF nodal officer and senior officials from enforcement agencies like Coast Guard, Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Income-Tax department, directed the state teams to enhance vigilance on the state borders. He called for vigil over the 185 inter-state check posts across the six neighboring states, to ensure no cross border movement of illicit cash, liquor, drugs, freebies takes place. Of these 185 checkposts, 21 are on Karnataka’s border with Kerala while 25 share the border with Tamil Nadu, 57 with Andhra Pradesh, 24 with Telangana, 53 with Maharashtra and 5 with Goa.
While taking note of the seizure of over Rs 305 crore since the announcement of Karnataka assembly poll, as compared to Rs 83 crore seized in 2018 assembly poll, Kumar insisted that responsibility be fixed on local officers who fail to control money power.
The CEC asked officials to step up the seizures with the support of adjoining states and instill fear of the administration amongst the violators, so as to fulfill the commission’s resolve to keep the Karnataka polls inducement-free. He specifically directed Coast Guard and NCB officials to keep strict vigil on movement of drugs and help curtail the menace.
Kumar also directed officials to keep a strict watch over social media for any violations and fake narratives aimed at vitiating the election atmosphere. He urged the officials to raise the bar on voter turnout, gender, youth and urban electors participation.
Election commissioner Anup Chandra Pandey asked the officials to initiate strict action against anti social elements, follow-up on the pending non-bailable warrants (NBWs) and mount strict vigil during the silence period to ensure voting without fear and favor. While emphasising the scope of further improvement in illicit liquor seizures, he directed officials to act against kingpins, prevent stockpiling of liquor and ensure that there is no diversion of molasses meant for export or any other use as defined by law.
Election commissioner Arun Goel asked the officials to tighten the vigilance without causing inconvenience to the public and ensure thorough post-seizure operations. He said that the objective of Monday’s review was to sensitize neighbouring states to put in best efforts for smooth conduct of elections.
Additional Secretary (Police) MHA, IG (CRPF), Executive Director (T.T & Coaching) Railways, and senior officials from the Commission were also present in the meeting.
Chief election commissioner Rajiv Kumar, during the video conference also attended by nodal police officers, CAPF nodal officer and senior officials from enforcement agencies like Coast Guard, Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Income-Tax department, directed the state teams to enhance vigilance on the state borders. He called for vigil over the 185 inter-state check posts across the six neighboring states, to ensure no cross border movement of illicit cash, liquor, drugs, freebies takes place. Of these 185 checkposts, 21 are on Karnataka’s border with Kerala while 25 share the border with Tamil Nadu, 57 with Andhra Pradesh, 24 with Telangana, 53 with Maharashtra and 5 with Goa.
While taking note of the seizure of over Rs 305 crore since the announcement of Karnataka assembly poll, as compared to Rs 83 crore seized in 2018 assembly poll, Kumar insisted that responsibility be fixed on local officers who fail to control money power.
The CEC asked officials to step up the seizures with the support of adjoining states and instill fear of the administration amongst the violators, so as to fulfill the commission’s resolve to keep the Karnataka polls inducement-free. He specifically directed Coast Guard and NCB officials to keep strict vigil on movement of drugs and help curtail the menace.
Kumar also directed officials to keep a strict watch over social media for any violations and fake narratives aimed at vitiating the election atmosphere. He urged the officials to raise the bar on voter turnout, gender, youth and urban electors participation.
Election commissioner Anup Chandra Pandey asked the officials to initiate strict action against anti social elements, follow-up on the pending non-bailable warrants (NBWs) and mount strict vigil during the silence period to ensure voting without fear and favor. While emphasising the scope of further improvement in illicit liquor seizures, he directed officials to act against kingpins, prevent stockpiling of liquor and ensure that there is no diversion of molasses meant for export or any other use as defined by law.
Election commissioner Arun Goel asked the officials to tighten the vigilance without causing inconvenience to the public and ensure thorough post-seizure operations. He said that the objective of Monday’s review was to sensitize neighbouring states to put in best efforts for smooth conduct of elections.
Additional Secretary (Police) MHA, IG (CRPF), Executive Director (T.T & Coaching) Railways, and senior officials from the Commission were also present in the meeting.
