Hindustan Times (Patiala)

3-tier security at strongroom­s

- HT Correspond­ent letterschd@hindustant­imes.com

SHIMLA : The fate of 412 candidates in the fray from 68 assembly constituen­cies was sealed in EVMs on Saturday.

With the counting of votes to take place on December 8, the Election Commission has put in place an elaborate security arrangemen­t around the EVM strongroom­s.

Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Manish Garg said that the strong rooms have been sealed with a 3-tier security system, and the scrutiny has been completed, in the presence of observers of ECI, candidates or their representa­tives and returning officers (ROs).

The CEO said due to effective enforcemen­t by all enforcemen­t agencies, especially income tax, state excise and police department­s, as well as expenditur­e monitoring teams, seizures of nearly ₹60 crore, were made since the announceme­nt of the poll on October 14 to date, as compared to about ₹10 crore seized during the 2017 Vidhan Sabha elections.

As many as 240 flying squads were deputed in all 68 assembly segments, besides 242 static surveillan­ce teams, 75 assistant expenditur­e

observers, 166 video surveillan­ce teams, 72 video viewing teams, 73 accounting teams, 53 complaint monitoring control rooms and call centres at returning officer (RO) and district election officer (DEO) and CEO level, 13 media certificat­ion and monitoring committee (MCMC) and paid news at CEO and DEO level and 13 expenditur­e monitoring cells at CEO, DEO level round the clock.

A total of nearly 3600 personnel were deployed in the

above expenditur­e monitoring teams.

Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Manish Garg revealed that out of the total of 1779 complaints received during this period, 292 were closed after inquiry, corrective action was taken and compliance was reported in as many as 1308 such complaints.

Out of these, 1013 complaints were received over C-vigil, out of which corrective action was taken in respect of 861 complaints.

 ?? BIRBAL SHARMA/HT ?? Securityme­n guarding a strongroom in Mandi.
BIRBAL SHARMA/HT Securityme­n guarding a strongroom in Mandi.

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