Show Us What’s in your Car Trunk! Static Surveillance Teams To Check Flow Of Cash, Liquor
Mangaluru: To stem the flow of liquor and cash during the Lok Sabha elections, and for effective monitoring of the poll process in the Dakshina Kannada Lok Sabha Constituency the DK District Administration has constituted Flying Squads and Static Surveillance Teams (check-posts). A bunch of these Static Surveillance Teams have been constituted for assisting the Election Commission in implementing the Model Code of Conduct. These squads will remain functional till the completion of polls.
The Flying Squads are headed by officials with Executive Magisterial power and comprise Police officials, and videographers for recording all their activities on a daily basis. The squads have been entrusted with the responsibility to attend to all complaints of threat, intimidation, movement of anti-social elements, liquor, arms and ammunition, and large sum of cash for the purpose of bribing of electors. The squads have also been assigned the task of videography of all major rallies, public meetings, and other major expenses made by political parties.
Each team has to submit a report in respect of seizures made on a daily basis to the returning officer. Expenditure-sensitive areas will be the focus to check on illegal activities. All the check-posts are already functioning 24×7 and they are keeping a hawk’s eye on election-related malpractices. Unexplained cash above Rs.50,000 will be seized. It will be released only after it is proven that it has nothing to do with the elections. If the seized amount from any individual is above Rs.10 lakh, it will be referred to the Income Tax Department.
After the Election Code of Conduct came to effect, a total of 337 liters of alcohol worth Rs 1,15,000 was seized and also 52 cases were booked for excise violations by the flying squad and Static Surveillance Teams. Comprehensive instructions for the purpose of effective monitoring of the election expenditure of the candidates are issued, which include, formation of 73 flying squads, 69 static surveillance teams, 169 sector officers and 25 video surveillance teams. In addition, police and excise department have set up check posts wherever required.
People carrying cash of Rs 50,000 to 10 lakh need have the relevant documents, which will be checked by the authorities. If the documents are found to be genuine, you are out of trouble.But, in case, if the authority feels that the cash found belongs to any candidate or party, then the same will be seized, and proper investigation will be done.
On Monday, 18 March election flying squad officials arrested two people and seized BJP pamphlets, at Nanthoor check post. The arrested persons were Ashwin (25) and Arun Kumar (26), both belonging to Manjeshwara in Kasargod. The duo was allegedly transporting 220 pamphlets in a car. The pamphlets of BJP did not bear the name and address of the printer or the number of copies printed. A case was registered under Section 127 (A) of the Representation of the People Act.
