Regarding the Vidhan Sabha 2017 elections, a total of 284 notices have been served to the candidates of various political parties and independent candidates for violation of the election model code of conduct since the enforcement of the MCC in the state.
According to information provided by official sources, the offences include holding public meetings without informing returning officers concerned as well as misuse of vehicles, violation of the norms related to the use of loud speakers, inducement and other violations as stated in the report of the office of the chief electoral officer.
The number of FIRs lodged in connection with alleged violation of the election model code of conduct rising in the state, the figure has reached up to 90 as per the report received from the officials concerned. The report further reveals that eight FIRs had also been lodged at various police stations in the state on Monday.
While three of the FIRs have been lodged in Uttarkashi district, eight have been lodged in Chamoli, three in Rudraprayag, one in Tehri, five in Dehradun, seven in Haridwar, 15 in Pauri, 11 in Bageshwar, 24 in Udham Singh Nagar, one in Almora, two in Champawat and eight in Nainital district.
The election officials have removed unauthorised posters and banners from 4, 63, 207 places including 1, 15, 224 public and 3, 47, 983 private places across the state since the model code of conduct was enforced.
In tune with the momentum of curbing the menace of bootlegging, a total of 1578 FIRs, including 56 on Monday, have been registered in various police stations of the state under the Excise Act since the enforcement of MCC. The Excise department has lodged 701 FIRs, including 28 on Monday, against those found involved in bootlegging. Apart from this, the department has also seized 38000.560 litres of illegally transported liquor, including 438.080 litres on Monday. Side by side, the police department has seized 20543.574 litres of liquor, including 291.610 litres on Monday, from the possession of the accused.
Moreover, police conducting a drive directing the licensed gun holders to deposit their firearms at the police stations concerned, 41233 licensed guns, including 129 on Monday, have been deposited at the police stations so far. Police claimed that 82.44 per cent of such firearms have been deposited so far. Police have also seized 131 illegal guns/weapons and 50 cartridges from persons carrying them illegally, an official said.