India’s ‘flying squad’ hunt for polls freebies
COIMBATORE: It’s a game of cat and mouse for Naresh and his “flying squad”, stopping cars, trucks and scooters to hunt for goodies being handed to voters in India’s mammoth election starting this week.
The illegal doling out of everything from alcohol to kitchen appliances has long been a feature of the vast undertaking that is Indian elections. But it’s getting worse.
Naresh (not his real name) is part of one of 60 “mobile flying squads” in just one district in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, where political parties are notoriously generous at election time.
“We never really know how our day will end,” Naresh, a khaki-uniformed policeman, told reporters.
“There are days when we get nothing.
“But on others, a timely tip-off by rivals or by plain perseverance and luck, we may find cash, a stash of alcohol or other freebies,” he added.
Over several hours, and in constant touch with a command centre, they stop dozens of vehicles and comb through the interiors, even under moped seats, but in vain – this time.
The day before, another squad impounded a vehicle packed with sarees. Others in the past have seized booze, watches, juicers, mixers, or just hard cash.
And while Tamil Nadu is a hotspot for such practices, it’s a nationwide phenomenon in the country of 1.3 billion people voting between April 11 and May 19.
From the moment the election was announced in mid-March, special laws took effect banning Indians from carrying large amounts of money, gold or silver without proper supporting documentation.
Officials such as police and railway staff are also granted temporary powers during the campaign to seize items they believe are being used to sway voters.
The phenomenon may not be new but many observers say that it has only become more acute in recent years, giving a huge advantage to richer candidates who can always spend more to get elected.