With just one day left for the Assembly polls, election expenditure monitoring officials have tightened their grip to control the distribution of money and other items to voters, even as 101 FIRs have been registered on charges of distribution of money to voters.
“We have registered 101 FIRs and arrested 60 persons,” Chief Electoral Officer Rajesh Lakhoni said. Over 7,500 flying squads of officials are on shifts to ensure that money is not given for votes and vehicle checks have been tightened. Over 1.19 lakh police personnel, including 300 companies of paramilitary personnel would be involved in election duty on May 16.
ADGP (Law and Order) C. Sylendra Babu in a statement said that 17,472 licensed guns had been deposited in the respective police stations out of 20,025 licensed guns accounted for. Godowns where explosives are kept have been checked.
Apart from cases of seizure of cash, 160 cases of election-related violence and 4,042 cases of violation of Model Code of Conduct have been registered, he said. As a preventive measure, security proceedings have been initiated against 11,231 persons and long-pending warrants of arrests were executed against 1,254 persons.
“Every effort is being taken to ensure a free, fair poll . The voter can contact nearest police station in order to pass on information or for help," Mr. Babu said. A total of 3,776 candidates are contesting in 234 constituencies.
