Director General of Police K R Srinivasa on Wednesday said that police Department had decided to initiate stern action against those who sends objectionable SMS to either lure or threaten voters to cast votes for a particular political party.

The department had set up four cellphone stations to help public inform about such messages. The numbers were: 94806 90069/ 94806 990070/ 94806 90071/ 94806 90072. If the messages lure or threaten, or any other matter violating poll code of conduct, the same could be forwarded to the numbers for action, he added.

Srinivasa also released a handbook containing election norms and guidelines. The handbooks would be distributed to all police stations across the State to help the police in carrying out poll duties, he said. Detailed about the action taken against those who violated code of conduct.

The police recovered 13.97 crore and registered four cases of illegally transporting cash aimed at use  for the polls. Police were verifying from where the Rs 10 crore recovered in Bellary had originated from. The case of cash recovery reported in Mandya had been transferred to the Excise Department, he added.

The police had booked 155 cases under Prevention of Disfigurement of Public Places Act 1981. As many as 626 case of violation of Karnataka Excise Act had been booked. The police recovered Indian Made Foreign Liquor, spirit and illicit liquor worth Rs 1.15 crore. The police had registered 1977 cases under Criminal Procedure Code 107/109/116 and took 4484 persons into custody. They were released after taking undertakings from them that they would not indulge in any criminal activity, he added.

As many as 353 criminal cases related with polls had been registered and 29 cases under Provisions of the Indian Penal Code and Representation of People Act had been registered for distributing or attempting to distribute articles to induce voters. Property worth Rs 75 lakh used for inducement or attempt to induce the voters had been recovered. Twelve persons were injured so far in poll-related violence and property worth Rs 50.6 lakh had been damaged, he added.

He said sensitive, non sensitive and hyper sensitive polling stations would be identified after withdrawal of nominations was over. The police were watching activities of rowdy elements and those with criminal background, he added.

Action would be taken against those police officials whose residences were raided by Lokayoutka after the Lokayukta  submitted report to the government, he said.