Mohali: To ensure free and fair electoral process during the upcoming Assembly Elections in Punjab, Deputy Election Commissioner Sandeep Saxena today visited the state and reviewed the pre-poll arrangements.
Addressing senior officers of police and administration, Saxena asked them to work fearlessly and with full commitment to ensure implementation of the ECI (Election Commission of India) guidelines in letter and spirit, so that free and fair elections could take place.
He said police and administration officers would be handling most important task of maintaining law and order situation in the state during elections.
He said the activities of anti-national elements and persons with suspicious credentials would be under constant watch of ECI.
He directed the police officers to arrest the proclaimed offenders as a precautionary measure and the process of surrendering arms and ammunition to be completed at the earliest.
Taking the issue of luring the voters seriously, the ECI has asked the state police administration to intensify police checking and ensure police nakas (check-posts) at sensitive points so that the voters could not be carried away by liquor, drugs or even money.
Addressing the meeting, Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab V K Singh explained in detail the arrangements being made in the state to ensure free and fair elections.
The already constituted committees would immediately come into action the moment model code of conduct is announced, Singh said.
Saxena also reviewed the arrangements made for the EVM Machines and Ballot papers.