Vigil stepped up at borders to curb flow of cash, freebies

Mangaluru: All major inter-state entry points to the Dakshina Kannada district are now under the Election Commission’s radar.
In order to prevent flow of money and freebies from the neighbouring state of Kerala, the district administration has set up checkposts at 10 entry points with the help of police and other departments. Inter-district and local checkposts have also been set up at various places in the district to prevent poll code violations.
Deputy commissioner Ravi Kumar MR said that to ensure effective implementation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the State Election Commission (SEC) have appointed Dakshina Kannada zilla panchayat CEO Kumar as the nodal officer. “Further, MCC nodal officers have been appointed for each of the eight constituencies in the district. In addition to the flying squads, static surveillance teams and video surveillance teams and 27 checkposts have been set up in the district. There are 10 inter-state checkposts, eight inter-districts and nine local checkpoints,” the DC said.
“We have installed CCTV cameras at all the inter-state entry points and arrangements have been made for webcasting too. Videographers also have been deployed at these border points. Further, teams of officials from the police, excise, revenue and other departments have been deployed along the inter-state border to check illegal activities,” the DC said.
He said mobile checkpoints of the Mangaluru City police and Dakshina Kannada police will also function at various places in the district. “The teams will monitor illegal movement of money and freebies that could be used to woo voterS,” the DC said.