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.
On Wednesday, the Prime Minister's rally in Ferozepur had to be cancelled due to a security lapse after some protesters blocked a route and forced his convoy to spend about 20 minutes on a flyover. The Prime Minister was enroute the National Martyrs Memorial at Hussainiwala when the incident happened.
On Thursday, senior BJP leaders including chief ministers of the party ruled states offered prayers at temples across the country for the well-being and long life of Prime Minister Modi after his security was breached in Punjab on January 5.
Most of these farmers had earlier stated that they were present at the spot but were not involved in the attack. They were, at that time, charged under bailable sections such as 'rioting' and 'voluntarily causing hurt' and were let off by the SIT officials under Section 41 of the CrPC.
The Congress is witnessing internal bickering on the issue of security breach of the Prime Minister and Congress MP from Punjab Manish Tewari has termed the incidence as most unfortunate and said the matter should be probed by a sitting High Court Judge.
Addressing a gathering in Tanda in Hoshiarpur district after laying the foundation stone of development work, the Chief Minister said there was no threat to the life of the Prime Minister but he cancelled his programme on Wednesday because of the thin presence of people at the BJP's rally.
High drama was witnessed on Thursday after 125 of 179 international passengers, who arrived at Sri Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport Rajasansi, near here, from Italy, in an Air India flight tested positive on arrival. The Covid passengers were asked to quarantine in local hospital as per the guidelines of the government.
