Absconders rounded up in Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA,( India ) March. 5. — Following an order by the Election Commission observer for Malda district, Mr Manoj Singh, the Malda district administration has rounded up absconders in the non-bailable warrant cases, officials said today. “Earlier, the number of absconders in the non-bailable warrant cases was about 4,000, but it has now been reduced to about 2,000,” said Mr DK Mondal, the Malda SP. He said that about 30 to 40 such accused persons are being produced before the court on a daily basis. “Many of those arrested do not have voting rights. Those who do, can cast their votes after getting bail from the court,” Mr Mondal said. The EC observer on Friday last convened a meeting with Malda police, where he asked the officials to arrest those named in the pending warrant list, following the EC guidelines. “We are trying to nab wanted criminals. A number of those on the wanted list are out in the district,” the Malda SP said. The EC observer for Malda also discussed in details about identifying the sensitive booths. The Malda SP informed that the EC has decided to deploy armed forces in all polling stations. “We will make a list of sensitive booths that require armed forces, especially in areas like Bamongola, facing KLO menace,” said Malda SP Mr DK Mondal. Mr DK Mondal also pointed out that the EC is planning to deploy Central forces at all the polling stations. As a result, the EC is estimating the number of armed officials at the polling booths required to conduct the elections in the state. “In order to deploy Central forces in all the polling stations, the EC has planned to conduct the poll in five phases,” Mr Manoj Singh, the EC Observer for Malda said. The Malda SP had already submitted a list of police inspectors and others officials, to the director-general of police for transfering them before elections. “Based on past records, the sensitive booths would be identified. But, to avoid risks of political violence at the polling stations identified as sensitive and vulnerable, armed forces will be stationed along all polling stations so that the polling process could be conducted peacefully,” a senior administrative official said today. On the other hand, it was also discussed to implement “ no Epic, no vote” theory and the administration is trying hard to provide epic cards to at least 7 per cent of the voters within a month through mobile Epic studio across the district. #