The Haryana State Election Commission on Wednesday issued instructions to all licence holders to deposit their weapons with the district administration ahead of the panchayat polls in the State.
Election Commissioner, Rajeev Sharma on Wednesday said that all the licence holders would be directed to deposit their weapons with the District Administration before the last date for the withdrawal of candidatures.
The District Administration would make foolproof arrangements for keeping the deposited firearms in safe custody. Proper receipt must be given to the licence holders depositing the firearms. It would be the bounden duty of the District Administration and Police Authorities to ensure that all firearms deposited with the Administration are returned to the licence holders immediately after one week of the declaration of results, said he.
Sharma said that no new arms licences would be issued during the period in which model code of conduct will remain effective with the announcement of election programme.
An order would be issued prohibiting carrying of all licenced firearms and lethal weapons during this period.
He added that the police should become vigilant and start search operations of the areas with known criminals and bad elements about seven days prior to the polls.
During such mopping operation, special attention should be paid to unearthing and seizing unlicensed arms and ammunition.
Also, adequate police personnel would be deployed at the polling stations, counting centres for security and maintenance of law and order to ensure peaceful, smooth and fair election. Adequate wireless sets would also be provided to improve communication for meeting any law and order problem of emergent nature, he said.
Strict vigil would be kept over movement of undesirable elements and vigorous check would be carried out to prevent men and vehicles moving with arms and ammunition.
He said that thorough checking of lorries, trucks and other vehicles would be carried out for three days before polls and on the poll day to ensure that no undesirable elements or arms and ammunition are infiltrated into and around the polling areas.
Restriction on movement of vehicles on poll day would be imposed and instructions would be issued to regulate vehicular traffic and plying of vehicles on poll days.
Sale and consumption of liquor 48 hours before the hour fixed for the conclusion of poll and the day on which counting of votes is to be taken up would be banned otherwise penal action would be taken.
The Excise and Taxation Department is also being requested to issue orders in this regard, he added.
Haryana panchayati Raj elections would be held in three phases i.e. January 10, 17 and 24. The poll would be conducted for 416 members of 21 zila parishads, 3,001 posts of 126 panchayat samitis and 6,198 posts and 62,492 posts of sarpanches and panches.