GUWAHATI, March 20 - As part of the drive to enforce the model code of conduct in the run-up to the Assembly polls, the Kamrup Metro District Election Authority has intensified drives to seize illegal arms, liquor and cash, besides removing banners and hoardings from public spaces.
Official sources said that till today, a total amount of Rs 1,11,53,855 has been seized from different places in the district under the Election Commission of India (ECI) guidelines, while 48,782 litres of liquor, both country and IMFL, were also seized from different places as part of the exercise to ensure free and fair polls throughout the district.
�We are working on a war footing to ensure that the model code of conduct is adhered to and strict action has been initiated,� said an official.
He added, �One pistol and 190 rounds of illegal ammunition have already been seized in the city so far.�
The Kamrup Metro Election District comprises four Legislative Assembly Constituencies � No.51 Jalukbari, No.52 Dispur, No.53 East Guwahati and No.54 West Guwahati.
�The District Election Authority immediately jumped into action on the very day when the Election Commission of India declared the poll schedule. The Model Code of Conduct Cell has been keeping strict vigil and till today 3,112 hoardings, flags, posters and wall-writings have been removed from government offices and buildings and other public places,� said the officials.
A total of 1,092 posters and hoardings were removed from areas under Jalukbari LAC, 1,183 from Dispur, 722 from Guwahati East and 115 from Guwahati West.
Under the �Suvidha� portal of the ECI, nine cases of online election related permission have been disposed of in the district.
�We have also installed the �Samadhan� application for receiving and disposing election related complaints and grievances. Out of 173 complaint cases, 156 cases have been disposed of till today,� officials said.
Sources added that a Video Viewing Team has been constituted and the team has been monitoring paid news and advertisements of political nature round the clock.
�Altogether, 12 flying squads fitted with GPS, 13 static surveillance teams and 12 video surveillance teams are also operating across the Election District to check the vehicles and prevent carrying of illegal cash, liquor and any kind of illegal items during the whole period of the election,� said an official.
Besides roads, the flying squads are also monitoring the river routes throughout the election district.
The Election District had earlier established a 24x7 control room, besides operating a toll-free and one WhatsApp helpline.
Officials added that the District Election Office of Kamrup Metro has also intensified Systematic Voters� Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) activities like use of social media, FM promotion, EVM exhibition, mobile display vans with audio-visual materials and other projects for creating mass awareness on voting rights.
Actress Barasha Rani Bisaya has been made the ambassador of the voter awareness programme in the Kamrup Metro Election District.
