The Election Commission today asked the bordering states of Punjab to step up vigil to prevent any unlawful activities in view of the February 4 Assembly polls.
The Commission held a review meeting through video conferencing which was attended by the Chief Secretary, DGP and other officials of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and UT Chandigarh.
"The Commission announced new protocol to intensify checking which will be implemented 72 hours before the elections to keep a tab on any unlawful activity," Punjab Chief Electoral Officer V K Singh said while addressing media here.
Singh said the neighbouring states have been asked to set up special check posts in their areas near inter-state borders to intensify surveillance in view of the Assembly polls on February 4.
"There will be complete 'naka bandi' at inter-state borders. Bordering states will set up check posts in their own areas to ensure double checking of vehicles and any unlawful activity," Singh said.
"The checking of vehicles will be intensified. The vehicles coming into Punjab will be checked thoroughly to prevent any inducements of voters. All vehicles, including that of senior offices and police personnel and ambulances, will also be inspected," he said.
Punjab has 109 inter-state check posts, said Singh.
Besides, the liquor vends in adjoining states which are at a distance of 3 km from the Punjab border will also observe dry day from February 2 (starting 5 pm) till February 4 (5 PM), said Singh.
In another initiative, Punjab voters who are working in adjoining states like UT Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana will be given paid leave on February 4 in order to facilitate them to cast their votes in assembly polls.
Punjab Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), who is also nodal officer for state elections, said there will a complete coordination between Punjab, other states and paramilitary forces for the smooth conduct of the Assembly polls.
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Meanwhile, Punjab CEO V K Singh said that non-voters would not be allowed to stay back in Punjab and would have to leave the state 48 hours before the elections on February 4.
Singh said that election commission was fully vigilant to check the inducement of voters by liquor, money and narcotics and strict monitoring of the situation was been done at constituency level and also at commission level.
He said that the neighbouring states have been told to completely seal the border with Punjab 48 hours prior to election to ensure free and fair vote.
Punjab ADGP V K Bhawra said that the seizure of drugs, liquor and cash done by law and enforcement agencies after code of conduct was valued at Rs 68 crore.
He said that commission has seized 4kg of heroin in district Amritsar which is the largest seizure of narcotics after the Modal Code of Conduct was imposed.
Commenting on reports of misuse of gunman, Bhawra said that 400 more gunmen have been withdrawn after thorough scrutiny of security provided to the protectees, taking the total withdrawal of guards to 1,600.
The ADGP said that police till date has rounded up 5,573 trouble makers and taken 4,147 in preventive custody to ensure peaceful election in the states.
Informing about the deposits of the weapons by the people, Bhawra said that it was a matter of great satisfaction that breaking all previous records 94 per cent licensed weapons have been deposited in all the districts.
He informed that 3.35 lakh weapons out of 3.55 lakh had been deposited and that 16 elections related FIRs have been registered throughout the state.
The CEO said that ECI has identified 4,840 vulnerable hamlets and 786 critical polling stations and all arrangements have been ensured to conduct free and fair elections.
Singh informed that web casting will be conducted at 4,316 polling stations and 1,36 would be videographed. Micro observers will be deputed at 9,562 polling stations.
