M F AHMAD
Daltonganj, April 11: Following the notification for the panchayat elections, there will now be a drive against illicit liquor manufacturing and sale.
At a joint press conference here today, DC Shashi Ranjan and SP Chandan Kumar Sinha said, “We will be further activating the excise officials to curb and contain the illicit liquor business.”
Illicit wine flows in any election, General or Vidhan Sabha, but has its deep penetration in the rural body election, said DC Ranjan.
The SP said that after the curb on illicit liquor, our next priority is to control the dubious characters who may pose a threat to the democratic process.
Execution of warrants will be expedited and there would be an expansion of bonding down of the shady characters, added the SP.
He further added that those bonded down in the Ramnavami festival have no immunity from more such bonding down as bond down progresses in the ‘context of the situation.’
The SP said the Palamu administration is working on three strategies. The first is where a different security cover is going to be at booths in government buildings.
The second is a booth or booths in the Naxal-hit areas. The approach is completely different in this case as there is the issue of the safety of voters, polling parties and the security personnel, reminded the SP.
The third is the non-naxal location booth. Here too there will be no complacency, asserted the top officials of the district.
As it is a 4-phase panchayat election, the administration is to seek additional forces. There may be more than 12 companies that Palamu is looking forward to, hinted the SP.
Till date, there is no word about the deployment of the CRPF but Home Guard jawans would surely be on poll security duty, he said
The DC said that the administration will closely watch the paid news. The cellular network is a major factor. 26 such booths have been found which have zero cellular connectivity. Here, the administration is toying with the idea of reaching through wireless or satellite devices.
Palamu administration’s mantra is safe and peaceful panchayat election as this district is not only a left-wing extremist hit district, it also has numerous other issues like harassment of weaker section voters and booth capturing as this panchayat election is in the ballot paper-ballot box mode, reminded the SP.
The DC and SP agreed there are booths in Palamu which have a history of vulnerability. Such vulnerable booths are being mapped now.
Singra booths are a typical example of booth capturing. Booths in Manatu block are very vulnerable as ex-feudal bosses still rule the roost.
The administration looked committed to ensuring that no eligible voter is denied voting just for his caste, creed or economy reiterated the two.
The administration is working on the critical booths. Palamu has 3,305 for more than 12 lakhs voters. There are 265 panchayats and 32 Zila Parishad seats in Palamu.
