CHENNAI: Flying squads have been instructed to arrest those distributing cash for votes. The next three days will be crucial to prevent the menace. The squads will now work round-the-clock in shifts till the counting is over, Chief electoral officer Rajesh Lakhoni told reporters here on Thursday.
The election machinery has started arresting those distributing cash for votes and other poll-related crimes. So far, nearly a dozen such arrests have been made. The drive will be intensified if the model code is violated.
To prevent any malpractice or criminal activities near polling station or inside booths, several initiatives have been taken. Of the total 66,000 booths, 58 per cent will enjoy one form of additional security measure like direct webcast, video recording of booth or presence of a micro observer throughout the polling period.
The public should help polling officers and contact the district control room to register serious complaints like distribution of cash, freebies or any poll violation. The identity of the complainant and the informer will be protected, the CEO said.
Meanwhile, 53 IPS trainees from the police academy in Hyderabad arrived in Chennai to be part of observers team. Of this, 17 IPS officers are to join the Chennai surveillance team. The remaining 36 will take care of other districts.
