Cash, drugs, liquor worth Rs 5.71 crore seized since model code enforcement
Jammu, August 29
Ahead of the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, the enforcement agencies across the Territory have seized Rs 5.71 crore worth of cash and other material, including drugs and liquor, in the first 12 days of enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct, officials said on Thursday.
In a statement, the office of J&K Chief Electoral Officer said in its mission to uphold the sanctity of electoral process and to accomplish the mission of the Election Commission (EC) to provide an equitable field to all the contestants, the enforcement agencies across the Union Territory have made the seizures.
“The cash and other freebies seized were meant for influencing the voters during the Assembly elections, which are scheduled to commence from September 18 in 3 phases, wherein over 88 lakh voters are eligible to exercise their electoral franchise,” he said.
“From the date of announcement of the election, Rs 5.71 crores worth drugs, cash and liquor have been seized by various enforcement agencies in J&K in first 12 days of enforcement of Model Code of Conduct,” the statement said.
Major department-wise seizures included seizures by Police Department valuing Rs 5.02 crore, SGST/CT Rs 52 lakhs and NCB worth Rs 11 lakh.
The Election department appreciated the efforts made by the enforcement agencies to ensure free and fair Assembly elections across the UT. The statement said that to monitor various election-related activities and also check Model Code of Conduct compliance, a Command and Control Room has been established at the CEO office in Jammu and Srinagar. Similar mini control rooms have also been established in every DEO office which are functioning round the clock.
“All electronic media channels, social media platforms are monitored here, any violation so detected, is reported and the concerned RO/ ARO issues notice,” the statement said.
Apart from looking for Model Code of Conduct (MCC) violations, the control room also has live feed of all polling stations and GPS vehicle tracking of all vehicles being used by poll parties.
