Any violation of Model Code of Conduct would be dealt strictly; District Election Officer-cum-DC and Commissioner of Police warn residents

Ludhiana, February 18, 2022: The Deputy Commissioner cum District Election Officer Ludhiana Varinder Kumar Sharma and Commissioner of Police Ludhiana Gurpreet Singh Bhullar today warned that any violation of Model Code of Conduct in district Ludhiana would be dealt strictly.

They said that there will be a complete ban on campaigning from 6 pm today (February 18, 2022) and violation by anyone would attract strict action. However, he clarified that there is no ban on door to door campaigning in the district.

In view of upcoming elections, District Magistrate Varinder Kumar Sharma has declared holiday in all government and private schools of district tomorrow (February 19, 2022). He said that schools cannot hold examinations tomorrow and if any examinations were scheduled for tomorrow, schools would have to reschedule them. However the schools (government and private), where polling booths have been set up, staff responsible for cleaning work, personal staff (chowkidar/sewadar) etc would have to remain present.

The DM has also banned holding dharnas, protests, holding meetings, sloganeering, assembly of five or more persons in district.

They also said that barring the residents of that particular assembly constituency, there is a complete ban on presence of outsiders in any constituency of the district and before 6 pm today, all persons should go back to their respective assembly constituencies. 

The DEO-cum-DC said that formal orders have already been issued in this regard and police personnel, returning officers or flying squads would check their voter ID cards to ensure that whether they are residents of that particular constituency or not.

He said that leaders of political parties should prepare their travel plans in such a manner that they leave other constituencies before 6 pm today and no excuse on this part would be tolerated. He warned that district administration would not shy away from registering an FIR against such persons.

They also warned of strict action if any person tries to disrupt peace and communal harmony in any part of district Ludhiana by using muscle power. “Such persons would be dealt with strictly and would be put behind bars,” they warned.

He said that complete checking of all hotels/lodges/guest houses/marriage palaces/restaurants etc would be carried out jointly by police, returning officers and flying squads to ensure no outsiders are staying there. He said all guests should be duly informed in advance that they would not be allowed to stay in a particular constituency if they are not its residents from 6 pm today (February 18) till completion of polling on February 20, 2022.

Deputy Commissioner said that the Returning Officers/police personnel/flying squads should must get an FIR registered against the outsiders if they continue to stay in the assembly segments after the election campaign was over. He said that the move was aimed at restricting the presence of political functionaries, party workers, procession functionaries and campaign functionaries, who have been brought from outside the assembly constituency for campaigning. Sharma said that the district and Police administration was duty-bound to ensure that all functionaries, who were not the voters, leave the assembly constituency immediately after the campaign ends for the Vidhan Sabha elections 48 hours before the polling day.

Varinder Kumar Sharma has already declared dry day in district from 6pm on February 18 to February 20, 2022 till conclusion of the voting. Divulging the details, Deputy Commissioner said dry day has been declared in entre district from 6 pm to February 18-20 in wake of the polling for Assembly elections. Likewise, he also said that dry day has also been declared in district of March 10 the day on which counting of votes would take place.

The Deputy Commissioner said that on these days, no hotel, restaurant, club, marriage palace and others would be allowed to serve liquor in their premises. He further said that no person can store liquor on these days as well. He stated that these orders have been issued to maintain law and order in view of the polling and counting.

He said that to ensure peaceful, free and fair elections, 80 companies of central paramilitary forces have been deployed in district Ludhiana. He said in three assembly constituencies namely Ludhiana (South), Atam Nagar and Ludhiana (Central), central paramilitary forces have been deployed in 100% polling booths, whereas strict vigil would be kept in some parts of Gill constituency, where an untoward incident had taken place few days ago. He said that central paramilitary forces, 5 quick reaction teams in each constituency and other force has been deployed in remaining constituencies of district Ludhiana. He said that these teams would be headed by senior commandant level officers of paramilitary forces, DCP level, ADCP/SP level, ACP/DSP level officers. 

He said that 235 sector officers/magistrates have also been deployed in the district and they would be accompanied by police personnel and videographers. These teams would keep patrolling their respective polling booths so that no untoward incident takes place.

Reiterating the firm commitment of the district administration to ensure free, fair and transparent polls in Ludhiana, he said that no stone would be left unturned for this noble cause adding that people should come and vote independently without any fear. He warned of strict action if any candidate/political party tries to lure voters by distributing cash, liquor or any other thing etc.