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This is an archive article published on February 16, 2023
Seizures of cash, liquor, other poll freebies in Tripura, Nagaland, Meghalaya up 20 times from 2018: Election Commission
A total of Rs.14.05 crore in cash, Rs.9.31 crore worth of liquor, Rs.85.76 crore of drugs, Rs.4.32 crore of precious metals and Rs.34.39 crore of other freebies have been seized in the three states so far, the ECI said.
A team set up the Election Commission seized dry ganja worth Rs 9.27 crore in Sephahijhala and destroyed ganja worth Rs 3.75 crore in West Tripura (ECI)
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Seizures of cash, liquor, other poll freebies in Tripura, Nagaland, Meghalaya up 20 times from 2018: Election Commission
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The Election Commission of India Thursday said seizures of cash, liquor, drugs, precious metals and other freebies meant for distribution in the states of Tripura, where polling is ongoing, and poll-bound Meghalaya and Nagaland, have increased twenty-fold compared to the 2018 Assembly elections.
In a statement, the ECI said it’s thrust on “inducement-free elections” had led to sustained efforts towards election expenditure monitoring. During the 2018 election season, total seizures of Rs.7.24 crore were made, the ECI said. Now, as of Thursday, seizures of Rs.147.84 crore had been made. This, with the Meghalaya and Nagaland campaign still on as polling is scheduled for February 27. The campaign in Tripura ended on Tuesday as polling was on Thursday.
A total of Rs.14.05 crore in cash, Rs.9.31 crore worth of liquor, Rs.85.76 crore of drugs, Rs.4.32 crore of precious metals and Rs.34.39 crore of other freebies have been seized in the three states so far, the ECI said.
“In Tripura, where enthusiastic voting is currently underway today, seeing the sensitivity of drugs and illegal Ganja cultivation, special team consisting of District Police, Forest officials, BSF, Anti-Narcotics and other agencies was formed in Sepahijhala and West Tripura district,” the ECI said.
This, it said, had led to the seizure of dry ganja worth Rs 9.27 crore in Sepahijhala and destruction of ganja worth Rs 3.75 crore in West Tripura.
“Similar actions are being taken in all three poll-going States and the seizures of drugs and psychotropic substances constitute 58% of total seizures reported from these three poll-going states. Increased seizures are being witnessed under all heads – cash, liquor, drugs, precious metals and freebies,” the ECI said.
In a major operation, 3.53 kg of heroin worth Rs 10.58 crore was seized by police in the Dhalai district of Tripura. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence also seized 2.447kg of heroin in East Khasi Hills district in Meghalaya and 2.27 kg in Chumoukedima district in Nagaland.
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Among the freebies seized by authorities were 17.09 lakh foreign-made cigarettes worth Rs 3.67 crore in Meghalaya, the ECI said.
Overall seizures of freebies in Tripura were worth Rs 44.67 crore, up from Rs 1.79 crore in 2018, and Rs 39.19 crore in Nagaland and Rs 63.98 crore in Meghalaya.
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