Mysuru: The City Police have rolled up their sleeves to restrict the flow of unaccounted cash, liquor and control poll-related violations as campaigning for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections has picked up pace and candidates visiting nook and corner of their constituencies, holding rallies, road shows, public and party meetings.

Election Expenditure Monitoring, political meeting monitoring process have been intensified with Static Surveillance Teams and Flying Squads keeping a close watch on check-posts across Mysuru district for violations of Model Code of Conduct. Also, with the election expenditure limit being Rs. 70 lakh per candidate, all candidates are being watched for their election spend and officials are making a list of rallies they address, the rally sponsors and if any government machinery is being used for political purposes.

All check-posts set up at the entry and exit points of Mysuru are equipped with CCTV cameras and barricades are set up on the roads to check vehicles including public transport. Check posts have been established at Kalasthawadi and Siddalingapura on the Mysuru-Bengaluru Highway, Mogaralli Manti on K.R. Mill Road, Koorgalli Industrial Area, Metagalli, and Belawadi on the Hunsur Road, Lingadevarakoppal, Bogadi Ring Road Junction, H.D. Kote Ring Road Junction, Nanjangud Road, T. Narasipur Road, Bannur Road and Mahadevapura Road.  

This apart, Static Surveillance Team check posts have been established on all the main roads, National and State Highways including Srirangapatna, Gandehosahalli, Hosahundi Gate, Belagola Paper Mill, Jayapura, Hunsur, Yelwal and Pandavapura Railway Station.

Each post has seven members per shift and they work round-the-clock in three shifts. On an average on every road, over 20,000 vehicles move every day and the figure touches 30,000 per day during weekends and holidays.

As it is an arduous task to check each and every vehicle as it causes traffic jams, authorities are checking vehicles which are suspicious and after coordinated information exchange with other check posts. However, arguments between the vehicle drivers with the check post staff are a common scene as it takes at least 5 to 10 minutes for a vehicle to be checked.

The administration is on high alert in Mysuru. Deputy Commissioner Abhiram G. Sankar, who is also the District Electoral Officer and Returning Officer, said that authorities are well prepared to hold free and fair polls, to maintain peace, law and order, bolster security and inspire voter confidence.

In Mysuru city and district, 1,803 licenced weapons have been deposited by private parties at the jurisdictional Police Stations.  Out of this, 1,150 weapons are in city jurisdiction and 653 are in rural region.

Considering criminal backgrounds, cases have been registered against 799 persons in city and 875 persons in rural areas. As a precautionary measure, action has been taken against 679 persons in city and 1,707 persons in the district.

As part of Nakabandi operation, 10 persons in city and 21 persons in rural areas have been taken into custody and non-bailable warrant has been issued against 2,646 persons out of which 1,061 persons belong to Mysuru district and 1,585 to rural region.  Warrants have to be issued against 300 persons in city and 202 in the district, he said.

Over 152.37 litres of liquor worth Rs. 54,346 has been confiscated. Unaccounted cash of Rs. 10,79,300 has been seized and in that Rs. 1 lakh has been seized in city and Rs. 9,79,300 has been seized in the district.  41 places where voters could be influenced have been identified and 581 persons who could create trouble have also been listed, the DC said.

Excise and Police officials have kept a watchful eye and till now, 20,964 litres of liquor worth Rs. 1,09,37,050 has been seized.  62 vehicles which were used to carry liquor including scooters, auto, car have been impounded. A total of 388 cases in the Excise Department and 38 in Police Department have been booked.