UP Assembly polls: Cash, gold, drugs worth Rs 11 crore seized, says police

Unaccounted cash, precious metals like gold and silver, illicit liquor and drugs totalling over Rs 11 crore have been seized since January in the nine districts of Uttar Pradesh where Assembly polls are scheduled for Monday, according to the police.

Over 2,000 illegal firearms and 165 kg of explosives have also been recovered while preventive action taken against 4.40 lakh people who are likely to disrupt peace during the polls, the Uttar Pradesh Police said.

These seizures and action under the Criminal Procedure Code have come since the model code of conduct for the polls came into force in January till the second week of February, the police said.

Voting will take place on Monday from 7 am to 6 pm across 55 Assembly constituencies of Amroha, Budaun, Bareilly, Bijnor, Moradabad, Rampur, Saharanpur, Sambhal and Shahjahanpur in western part of the state.

In the second phase of polls in nine districts, a total of 1.33 lakh licensed firearms have been deposited with the police since the model code of conduct came into force. Another 16 weapons have been seized while licenses of 32 arms have been cancelled, the Uttar Pradesh police said in a statement.

In view of the apprehension of breach of peace during elections, 27,062 actions have been taken under CrPC sections 107/116 against 4.77 lakh persons while 4.40 lakh persons have been bound under the CrPC section 116(3), they said.

The preventive action in such cases under CrPC provisions refers to surety bonds to be given by those who are likely to commit acts to disturb public tranquility and breach peace, according to officials.

The police said they have also recovered 2,053 illegal arms, 1,835 cartridges and 165 kg of explosives during the period.

As per instructions of the Election Commission, a total of Rs 3.49 crore unaccounted cash, precious metals worth Rs 2.88 crore have been seized during checking till Sunday, the police said.

Illegal liquor worth Rs 4.62 crore, drugs worth Rs 4.03 crore have also been recovered since the model code came into effect, they added.

A total of 128 cognizable offenses and 24 non-cognizable offenses cases have been registered in the second phase districts so far for violating the code of conduct, while 79 cases have been registered regarding violation of the election-related guidelines, it said.

The first phase of Assembly elections for 58 seats of 11 districts in western Uttar Pradesh were held on February 10. The elections are being held in seven phases this time and the results will be announced on March 10.