Cash and liquor being splashed in Punjab poll drive, EC officials make Rs 310 crore worth seizure

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As the election campaign gathers momentum in Punjab, various law enforcement agencies acting under the command of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) have seized unaccounted assets including cash and liquor to the tune of Rs 310 crore after the imposition of the model code of conduct.</p>
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The seizure confirms that the political parties are using liquor and distributing cash to buy votes.</p>
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Giving details in this regard today, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Punjab, Dr S Karuna Raju, said that the surveillance teams have seized 27.86 lakh litres of liquor worth Rs 14.75 crore. The enforcement wings have also recovered psychotropic substances valued at Rs 275.59 crore besides confiscating unaccounted cash to the tune of Rs 19.19 crore.</p>
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The CEO did not clarify to which political party or candidate contesting the election, the contraband belonged. Movement of all types of cash and goods such as liquor without receipts is being seized. </p>
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The CEO revealed that as many as 1,203 vulnerable hamlets have been identified. Besides this, 2,903 persons have been identified as probable sources of trouble, he said adding that out of these persons, preventive action had already been initiated against 1,949 persons while the remaining would also be brought to book soon.</p>
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He also informed that from a security point of view, 799 persons have been bound down under preventive sections of the CrPC act. As many as 2,676 cases of non-bailable warrants have been executed, while execution in 39 cases is under process. As many as 15,722 police checking barricades are operational across the State.</p>
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As per the directions of the election commission, Dr. Raju said that out of 3,90,275 licensed weapons in the state, 3,76,484 weapons have been deposited with the authorities so far. On the other hand, 69 unlicensed weapons have been seized.</p>
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