Uttar Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer Navdeep Rinwa has said that the Election Commission of India’s directives are being adhered to uphold law and order during the Lok sabha elections.

He said that various agencies – the Police, Income Tax, Excise and Narcotics – were taking concerted action.

The state has deployed 438 inter-state and 1,827 check posts to ensure thorough scrutiny.

Between March 16 and April 30, 2024, the police confiscated 535 licensed weapons from individuals with criminal records. Additionally, licences for 4,694 weapons were revoked and surrendered. Proactively preventing potential disturbances, the authorities have issued notices under the Criminal Procedure Code to restrict the movements of 26,27,735 individuals, with 22,36,435 individuals complying with the ban.

The police have seized 8,317 unlicensed weapons, 8,384 cartridges, 2,900.32 kg of explosives, and 455 bombs. A total of 3,559 illegal weapon manufacturing centres were raided while 157 establishments were sealed.

“With the announcement of election dates for Lok Sabha elections-2024 on March 16, 2024, efforts are being made in the entire state to conduct free, fair, peaceful, fear-free, inducement-free, inclusive and safe voting. Model code of conduct is in effect,” the CEO said.

He added, “On April 30, 2024, the police cancelled the licence of two weapons of criminal persons and deposited them. Taking preventive action under the CrPC, 25,514 people were banned. Besides, 167 unlicensed weapons and 127 cartridges were recovered and seized. Police raided 67 centres manufacturing illegal weapons of which five were sealed.”