Election code violations rampant; supporters arrested

 Shivanand, contestant of Congress Belur Town Municipal Council (TMC), ward no seven has been arrested on charges of alluring voters on Wednesday. Eshwar, friend of Shivananda was also arrested in this regard.

After examining the car, which was suspiciously parked near Belur Chennakeshavaswamy temple in the noon, police found six liters of liquor and Rs 40,500 in it, along with which handbills requesting votes for Shivanand. 

Immediately police apprehended Shivananda (Kayi Shivu) and his friend Eshwar. Circle inspector confirmed about the complaint being lodged at Belur police station.

Eshwar, who is said to have been suffering from heart ailments, collapsed on premises of the court. He was rushed to Belur government hospital and was shifted to Hassan for further treatment.  
However, in a press meet in the evening, MLA Y N Rudresh Gowda refuted charges on Shivananda and suspected role of miscreants in ‘tainting’ name of Shivananda.

He clarified that the cash seized belonged to Eshwar and was not brought to distribute. “Someone has unkowingly kept the liquor bottles in the car,” he alleged. 

At Hassan

Hassan City Municipal Council (CMC) ward no 19 Congress candidate Neelakanta was arrested at Hassan following charges of violating poll code of conduct.

He was arrested on charges of distributing silver idols and cash to voters. Cash of Rs 19,000 has been seized by the police. Acting on a complaint received by BJP candidate of the ward Ramesh Babu, police made the arrest.

In another incident, one, Hakim was arrested for distributing money to voters for JD(S) candidate of ward no 18 of Belur. Police have seized cash of Rs 25,000. 

He was seen giving away the money to residents near the government school near Lakshmipur. He was distributing money to voters on behalf JD(S) candidate Khader. Circle inspector K Srikant has made the arrest.

In Mandya

Police arrested two persons Satish and Prasanna and seized Rs 38,500 from them in ward number 7, V V Nagar in the city. The money was to be distributed among the voters.

Two mobile phones and electoral list were seized from the duo. However, unconfirmed reports claim that money or other allurements are being distribued by candidates in almost every ward in the city. Officials had conducted raids in Subashnagar and Vidyanagar in the city. Candidates along with their supporters were seen campaigning from door to door in a bid to woo voters to vote for them.