Seizures worth Rs 147.84 cr made from poll-bound states of Tripura, Meghalaya and Nagaland

Enforcement agencies have seized cash, drugs, liquor, precious metals and freebies worth Rs 147.84 crore from the states of Tripura, Meghalaya and Nagaland. The seized amount is 20 times higher than the amount seized during the Assembly elections in the three states in 2018, Election Commission said in an official release today. In 2018, the seized amount was just Rs 7.24 crores.

The amount has been seized in the three states since the elections dates were announced in January end and the Model Code of Conduct had come into force.

Big operations include seizure of 3.52 kg of heroin in Dhalai district of Tripura amounting to Rs 10.58 crores made by the Police. Seizures of heroin were also reported from East Khasi Hills District in Meghalaya (2.447 Kg) and from Chumoukedima District in Nagaland (2.27 kg), done by DRI.

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 after announcement of elections under supervision of Special Expenditure Observer. In Sepahijhala, total destruction of Ganja plantation and seizure of dry ganja amounts to Rs 9.27 crores and in West Tripura district, the figures of ganja destruction is Rs 3.75 crores. In North Tripura also, seizure of Ganja of 529 kg amounting to Rs 1.10 crores was made.

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.

Since these three poll-bound States share both national and international boundaries, apart from drugs, liquor inflow with the purpose of wooing voters, has been another major concern for the Election Commission. The Commission had directed operationalizing excise nakas at strategic locations and border check posts to curb inflow of liquor. The efforts have led to more than three lac litres of liquor seizure in the three states with still days left before final completion of poll, particularly in Meghalaya and Nagaland, the ECI statement said.

Increased vigil over Commission’s direction to keep strict watch over online bribery and cash distribution has led to cash seizure of Rs 14.05 Crores. With regard to seizure of freebies, one incident of seizure of a massive number of Foreign Origin Cigarettes (17.09 lakh sticks) worth Rs. 3.67 Crores was reported in Meghalaya.

The Commission has also deployed 19 Expenditure Observers in Tripura, 21 in Meghalaya and 24 in Nagaland as also two special expenditure observers. 80 Assembly Constituencies have been marked as Expenditure Sensitive.

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