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New Delhi, Oct 17 (IANS) In a major step to ensure free and fair elections in Bihar, the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday called a high-level meeting with the heads of several enforcement and security agencies to tighten surveillance against the movement of cash, drugs, liquor and other illegal inducements.
The meeting of the Multi-Departmental Committee on Election Intelligence (MDCEI) was held at Nirvachan Sadan in New Delhi, chaired by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi.
The Commission stressed the need for active monitoring and preventive action to prevent electoral irregularities affecting voter behaviour.
Major including Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), Enforcement Directorate (ED), Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Central Economic Intelligence Bureau (CEIB), Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU-IND), Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Indian Banks Association (IBA), Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Railway Protection Force Top officials from enforcement agencies (RPF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Border Security Force (BSF), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), Airports Authority of India (AAI) and Department of Posts participated in the discussion.
Chief Secretary, Director General of Police, State Police Nodal Officer and Chief Electoral Officer of Bihar attended the meeting virtually.
“Various agencies briefed the Commission about their preparedness, steps taken and proposed steps to ensure inducement-free elections,” the ECI said in its press note.
“The briefing covered a wide range of topics, including prohibiting the use of money and other inducements to distort elections,” it said.
The Commission directed all agencies to coordinate and share intelligence at the national, state and district levels.
Emphasizing a ‘zero-tolerance’ policy towards election baiting, the ECI directed agencies to map sensitive constituencies and intensify checking at inter-state and international borders to prevent inflow of contraband material and black money.
The Commission also directed that agencies concerned prepare a map of constituencies to check transportation of smuggled goods, drugs, liquor and cash, including counterfeit currency, interstate borders and international borders.
Urging strict compliance, the Commission said the integrity of elections depends on a collective effort to prevent economic crimes that compromise democracy.
The agencies were asked to maintain constant vigil and ensure prompt action against any suspected violations, as Bihar heads towards a crucial electoral process.
–IANS
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