Contraband worth over Rs 15 crore seized in Uttarakhand before Panchayat poll voting
PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE | Dehradun
The police have seized illegal liquor and narcotic substances worth nearly Rs 15 crore as part of preventive action ahead of voting in the ensuing Panchayat elections in Uttarakhand. In preparation for the three-tier Panchayat elections 2025, the director general of police Deepam Seth chaired a video conference on Tuesday to review the situation. The session included all zonal and district police officers.
According to the officials, 20,400 litres of illegal liquor valued at approximately Rs 1.32 crore and 145 kilogrammes of illegal narcotics with an estimated value of Rs 13.7 crore have been seized so far. A total of 20,288 individuals have been challaned across 2,778 cases, with 7,682 people placed under preventive restrictions. Nearly 86 per cent of licensed firearms have been deposited in various districts as per the official data.
During the meeting, inspector general of police and state nodal officer for elections, Nilesh Anand Bharne presented an update on police arrangements, force deployment and district-wise feedback. The DGP issued instructions regarding force deployment, budget allocation, preventive measures and handling of sensitive polling stations. He stressed on strict adherence to the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) and continuous monitoring of weather conditions to ensure timely arrival of polling parties.
Forces deployed for the concluding phase of the Kanwad Yatra will be reassigned to election duties in their respective districts. Coordination with district administration was directed for addressing any reports of election boycott at the local level. The officials informed the DGP that a deployment chart is being prepared by districts and additional force requirements will be communicated to the respective nodal officers. The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) has been instructed to coordinate with the State disaster management authority for early warnings on potential hazards. District heads have been directed to inspect highly sensitive booths and ensure swift action on even minor incidents. The police are also consistently monitoring social media platforms and taking legal action against those spreading misinformation.
The DGP stated that ensuring a secure and peaceful voting environment for every voter is a collective responsibility and warned of strict action against anyone attempting to disrupt the electoral process.
