EC to mount a vigil for cash, liquor at railway stations

The Election Commission (EC) today said a strict vigil will be maintained at railway stations in Bihar to watch movement of cash, liquor, gold and any other undesirable items in the run up to the elections.
This is being done with an intention to monitor poll-related expenditure during the upcoming general elections. Till now, surveillance teams are operating only at airports in Patna and Gaya, EC officials said.
A decision to this effect was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Electoral Officer of Bihar, Ajay V Nayak with officials of Income Tax, Central Excise, Commercial Taxes, Railways, Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).

"Intensive surveillance will be mounted at railway stations with the help of railway officials and other departments. Continuous screening will be done to curb any attempt to bring in cash or liquor to influence voters," said Sanjay Kumar, Deputy Secretary with the EC.
The SSB is also gearing up to chip in its personnel for the smooth conduct of the Lok Sabha elections in the state.
Its Patna Frontier Inspector General (IG), Aditya Misra said patrolling along the 700 km Indo-Nepal border in the state would be intensified for this purpose.

"We will keep a strict vigil on the movement people, fake notes, liquor and other things. Our force will be cooperating with other central and state government agencies in this regard," said Misra.

Meanwhile, 1,400 non-bailable warrants were executed, 15,580 bonds have been taken and 1,439 persons have been identified as probable sources of trouble in Bihar to ensure peaceful elections, EC sources said.
The EC has identified 400 hamlets as vulnerable and the process is still going on. 920 'nakas' or check-posts have been operationalised in the state and officials of the Transport, Excise and Commercial Taxes departments have been asked to maintain a strict watch on the movement of people and goods in view of the elections.