K’taka polls: Border checks intensified

Canacona: Ahead of Karnataka polls, intensive checking at the Polem-Majali checkpost on the Goa-Karnataka border, has been undertaken to keep a watch on alcohol smuggling.
While Goa excise at Polem checkpost is on strict surveillance of vehicles going to Karnataka, the excise sleuths, police and CRPF personnel, besides central government deputed election officers on duty, check every vehicle arriving from Majali checkpost and those coming from Goa at the Polem checkpost.
Incidentally, with Karnataka officials stopping all vehicles, there is a traffic backup in the no-man land (neutral land) between Goa and Karnataka, often extending beyond the barricaded Goa’s side.
Officials are keeping a close tab on transportation of liquor, cash and any other articles, including sarees, in large quantity which could possibly be used for distribution to lure voters.
An officer manning the border, said, “We have been ordered, and we don’t simply stop and search vehicles, but that’s the need of the hour. Senior citizens even enter into arguments with us, but we are happy to get full support and cooperation to carry out our assigned tasks.’