Bhubaneswar: Police and excise officials have seized over 1 lakh litres of liquor across the state in the past 15 days while enforcing the model code of conduct for the upcoming panchayat polls.
According to official sources in the state election commission (SEC), during the period from January 19 to February 6, Balasore tops the police districts with over 70,000 litres of liquor seized followed by 7,057 litres in Ganjam and 3,920 litres in Jajpur.
The police and empowered authorities have also seized 27 illegal arms and over 470 grams of drugs. As many as 1,492 arrest warrants have been executed during the period. The highest 201 arrest warrants were executed in Balasore followed by 171 in Ganjam.
Similarly, the highest eight arms were seized in Rourkela police district during the period, said a statement issued by the SEC.
The statement, however, did not mention about the seizure of any cash from the districts.
“Enforcement activities have been intensified across Odisha with an aim to ensure free, fair and impartial conduct of rural polls in the state. Instructions have been issued to police to further intensify the enforcement activities. We have also launched a helpline number where people can lodge complaints of any attempt to influence the voters or violation of any other model code of conduct,” said a senior SEC official.
“Enforcement activities have been intensified across Odisha with an aim to ensure free, fair and impartial conduct of rural polls in the state. Instructions have been issued to police to further intensify the enforcement activities. We have also launched a helpline number where people can lodge complaints of any attempt to influence the voters or violation of any other model code of conduct,” said a senior SEC official.
Recently, state excise commissioner Ashish Kumar Singh directed all district collectors to ensure that no liquor shops, hotels, restaurants, clubs and other establishments sell or serve liquor to anyone from 48 hours before the polling date.
Singh has also asked to ensure that storage of liquor by individuals shall be curtailed during this period and that restrictions are followed.
The three-tier panchayat polls in the state will start from February 16 and will continue till February 24 in five phases. Counting of votes will be held at the block headquarters for three days from February 26.
