Psychotropic substances of Rs 23.36 cr seized in Punjab
Darpan News Desk IANS, 13 Jan, 2022 01:19 PM
Chandigarh, Jan 13 (IANS) After the Model Code of Conduct came into force in the state for the Punjab Vidhan Sabha elections, enforcement teams have seized valuables worth Rs 23.8 crore in violation of code, besides confiscating unaccounted cash till January 12, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Punjab S. Karuna Raju said on Thursday.
He said the surveillance teams have seized 797,66.512 litres of liquor valued at Rs 24 lakh. Similarly, the enforcement wings have recovered psychotropic substances amounting to Rs 23.36 crore, besides confiscating unaccounted cash of Rs 4 lakh, he added.
The Chief Electoral Officer revealed that as many as 1,028 highly sensitive areas have been identified.
Besides, 1,131 such persons have been identified, who can create disturbance, he said, adding that out of these persons action had already been initiated against 362 while the remaining would also be brought to book.
He said in security point of view preventive measures had been taken against 31 persons. He informed there were 998 non-bailable warrant cases under process in the state, of which, action had already been initiated against 873 persons under non-bailable warrants after the enforcement of Model Code of Conduct.
Teams have also removed as many as 49,852 defacements of public properties, while 16,900 on private properties.
As per the directions of the election commission, Raju said till date 12,684 out of 297,140 licensed weapons had been deposited in the state, whereas 17 weapons without licenses were seized in the state.
He also informed that 84 per cent of staff to be deployed in election duties have got their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, while, 49 per cent staff is fully vaccinated.
The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with the country's top security officers held a meeting on Wednesday over the situation arising out of the IAF chopper crash in Tamil Nadu that killed Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, his wife and 11 others onboard the ill-fated helicopter.
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), the umbrella body of the farmers protesting along the borders of the national capital over agricultural issues, have agreed to the draft proposal prepared by the Central government, and is expected make a "major announcement" on Thursday. A meeting is likely to be held on Thursday noon to decide the further strategy of the movement.
Former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Tuesday lashed out at the Congress high command for appointing Ajay Maken as the Chairman of the screening committee for shortlisting candidates for the next Vidhan Sabha elections in Punjab. In a statement here, Amarinder Singh said Maken is the nephew of (late) Lalit Maken, who was one of the main culprits of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in Delhi.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday said the sand mafia in Punjab alone runs illegal business of over Rs 20,000 crore. There are serious allegations of direct involvement of ruling Congress MLAs, their ministers and their close associates, including the Chief Minister himself.
Farmers' agitation on the borders of the national capital is likely to end soon as the Centre on Tuesday gave a written assurance on their demands. After a meeting in the evening, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), which is spear-heading the agitation, said that they will meet again on Wednesday as they have sought some clarifications from the government on its communication.
