Rs 6.73 lakh & 1,005 litres of illicit sezied in Bihar: Election Commission

PATNA: In its drive to curb misuse of money power in poll-bound Bihar, the authorities today seized Rs. 6.73 lakh unaccounted cash besides 1005 litres of illicit country made and foreign liquor from different places in Bihar.

The authorities seized Rs 5.90 lakh from Bhojpur district and Rs 83,500 from East Champaran district, Additional Chief Electoral Officer ( ACEO) R Lakshmanan said adidng that police and income tax officias are investigating the matter.

As per the directive of Election Commission to ensure peaceful and fair elections in the state, the authorities have siezed 1005 litres of illicit country made and foriegn liquor during the raids at various places across the state, he said.

Citing the provisions of Representation of People's Act, Lakshmanan said that political campaignings in any form would not be allowed in the 50 constituencies spread in six districts going to polls in third phase of polling on October 28. Patna is among the six districts which would go to polls in third phase.

He also said that the sale of liquor would be banned till the completion of polling in the third phase.

Additional CEO said that voters can also exercise their franchise in the absence of voter's identity card if he/she has other 10 alternative documents that included- Passport, Driving License, PAN card, MNREGA job card, passbooks of bank or post office, identity cards issued by Central or state governments or public sector undertakings.

He said that all the polling stations would have basic minimum facilities that includes drinking water, sitting arrangements, lighting, help desk, toilets, ramp etc.

In the incidents related to enforcement of model code of conduct till the end of third phase, 266 cases have been registered for defacement in public property, while 28 cases have been lodged for defacement in private property, he said adding that 86 cases of misuse of vehicle act, 22 for violation of loudspeaker act and four cases related to inducement/gratification to electors.

In matters related to law and order, 231 arms and weapons and 100 explosives have been seized, while 14682 licensed arms deposited with the authorities and 3686 arms license cancelled, he said.

41852 persons have been bound down under preventive sections of Cr PC, while 17676 non-bailable warranted exeecuted, adding a sum of Rs. 1.87 crore have been collected as fine in vehicle checking.