Hawk’s eye on poll bribery

NT NETWORK

Panaji

After keeping a hawk’s eye for the possible distribution of  poll inducements in the  run-up to the Lok Sabha elections  and the bypolls to  three assembly constituencies, government agencies have now shifted their focus  to the May 19 byelection to the Panaji assembly constituency,

The Panaji assembly segment is considered as vulnerable vis-à-vis poll expenditure. Hence precautionary steps are being taken, sources said, adding that government vehicles will also be under the police radar.

Government vehicles will be subjected to checks, as there is a suspicion that these vehicles are used to influence voters, the sources said, adding that the vehicles can be used to ferry money, goodies or anything with which voters can be influenced.

A watch is being kept and police pickets will be put up at the boundaries of the constituency.

The government agencies have said that 48 hours prior to voting day is said to be crucial as it is suspected that during this period there is likelihood of distribution of cash or goodies to influence voters.

Surveillance had been stepped up 48 hours before the day the state went to the polls to both the Lok Sabha seats and the by-election to the three assembly segments.

However, it is speculated that cash or goodies must have been doled out well in advance, probably a month

before, said a senior police officer.

But this could not be confirmed, the police officer admitted.

‘Poders’, milkmen and newspaper delivery boys had been under the police radar for being possible couriers of money.

However, there were no reports on these hawkers being used as couriers of bribery money.

Nevertheless, the particular hawkers will continue to be under the police radar for the Panaji bypoll as well.