Himachal CEO: Take steps to prevent allurement of voters

Shimla: All steps should be taken to prevent menace of inducement to electors by distribution of cash, liquor, gifts, feasts etc. through a well thought strategy and action plan.
This was stated by Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Maneesh Garg while presiding over the meeting of Election Expenditure Monitoring (EEM) here Thursday.
He said expenditure monitoring is one of the crucial aspects of a free and fair electoral process and all legal expenses should be documented and accounted for to prevent any illegal activities.
He asked the Income Tax department for daily submission of cash seizure reports and other reports of State in the office CEO from date of announcement of Assembly elections. All airports and in the State, major railway stations, hotel, farm houses and other suspicious agencies likely to be used for movement of undisclosed cash during the election process will be kept under close surveillance.
Checks should also be kept where huge cash transactions are observed in coordination with the banks. The CEO directed the State Taxes and Excise department to list absconding and warranted persons with reference to liquor cases. He stressed the need for effective monitoring of the border check post with CCTVs and deploying adequate force. He said toll free numbers should be made operational before the announcement of elections.
The CEO said meetings should be held regularly with the Law enforcement agencies of the neighboring states having common entry points. Directions were also given to the Police Department to submit the details of seizure of liquor, arms, cash and law and order reports daily, besides to ensure 100 percent deposition of licensed arms at the earliest after the announcement of elections.
The Central Security agencies were asked to keep close watch on cross border illegal trade and smuggling of articles alluring voters and effectively guarding EVM strong rooms, besides providing security at polling stations during poll days in coordination with state police force. Central Board of Direct Taxation, Financial Intelligence Unit, State level Bankers Committee, Reserve Bank of India, Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, Norcotic Control Bureau, Enforcement Directorate, Railway Protection Force, Central Industrial Security Force and Indo Tibetan Border Police Force were given necessary directions for smooth conduction of electoral process and expenditure monitoring. The meeting was attended by Nodal officers of various departments. (UNI)