CEO holds meeting with various departments to review arrangements for bye- elections

Chief Electoral Officer, Himachal Pradesh C. Paulrasu presided over a review meeting today with the State Nodal Officers of Police, Excise and Taxation and Income Tax departments in view of the bye-elections.

While reviewing the responsibilities of the Police department, the State Election Security Planprepared by the department was discussed. Emphasis was laid to make comprehensive arrangements for checking and prevention at border areas, districts are state borders, 24 hours surveillance at inter-district and inter-state checkpoints and other entry points for control and monitoring of alcohol, drugs, cash, illegal arms etc. from neighbouring states or districts. 
Emphasis was also  laid on establishing coordination with the officers of concerned districts or states. Instructions were given to take preventive measures against history-sheeters, declared fugitives and other criminals in the respective Assembly Constituencies and execution of pendingnon-bailable warrants. 
Besides this, instructions were given to deposit arms, action plan fordeployment of Central Armed Police Forces, coordination with flying squads and other enforcement agencies and  to send reports of various activities on a daily basis.

Instructions were given to Excise Department for closely monitoring the movement of all vehicles at the RTO check posts, border check posts and keeping all the liquor stores and distilleries of Kangra, Solan, Shimla, Mandi, Kullu, Kinnaur, Lahaul-Spiti and Chamba districts under CCTV surveillance round the clock during the bye-elections. Instruction were also given for making proper arrangements of police personnel for monitoring  supply of all types of liquor without valid license.

The Income Tax Department was directed to keep a close watch on the activities of airports, hotels, financial brokers, cash couriers and other suspicious agencies or persons during the bye-election period, so as to check the undeclared cash flow. The department was directed to coordinate with the enforcement agencies and the district monitoring cell of the respective districts and also to keep aneye on the cases of deposits or withdrawals of suspicious nature of more than Rs. 10 lakh.

Inspector General of Police (AP and T) J.P. Singh, Additional Director (Investigation) Income Tax Ankur Alya, Nodal Officer and Additional Commissioner, State Tax and Excise Hitesh Sharma, Additional Chief Electoral Officer Neelam Dulta and Deputy Chief Electoral Officer H.L. Dhiman were also present in the meeting.