EC directs neighbouring states officials ahead of Har polls

Reviewing poll preparedness ahead of the Assembly election in Haryana, Chief Election Commissioner V S Sampath today directed the officials of states adjoining it to maintain coordination with their counterpart in Haryana.
Sampath was talking to the chief secretaries and director generals of police (DGPs) of the states adjoining Haryana namely Punjab, Rajasthan, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh through a video conference from New Delhi to review the arrangements being made by them in view of the polls on October 15, an official spokesman here said.
The officials of the neighbouring states informed the CEC about the arrangements being made for the same.

They said that special check-posts have been set up at borders of the state and vigil was being kept to check and smuggling of liquor, unauthorised weapons and money.
Haryana Chief Secretary Shakuntala Jakhu, Director General of Police S N Vashisht, Additional Chief Secretary Roshan Lal and Haryana Chief Electoral Officer Shrikant Walgad also informed about the arrangements being made for the smooth conduct of elections.
Jakhu said that the borders of Haryana adjoin with borders of six states and police patrolling is being carried out on all these places.

She said that directions have been issued that all liquor vends in the state would remain closed on October 14 and 15 for peaceful conduct of elections.

She said that senior police officer Navdeep Singh has been appointed as a nodal officer to maintain coordination with other states.
Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Secretary Sarvesh Kaushal assuring total cooperation to ECI in smooth conduct of elections in Haryana said that the official machinery in six neighbouring districts of Haryana have been put on alert and 64 'nakas' on border with Haryana would be sealed on the day of the polling.
He said that law and order machinery has been told to keep a check on inter-state border movement.
He said that the Punjab Government has declared dry day in the vends of 3-km border belt with Haryana on the day of polling as well as on the counting day on October 19.