<p>Sector magistrates are given special powers to invigilate areas and confiscate unlicensed campaign materials, said Deputy Commissioner D S Vishwanath on Monday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>“According to the CRPC Section 20, only the deputy commissioner, assistant commissioner and tahsildars are given powers to inspect and seize illegal items. As a preventive measure against crime related to the ongoing elections, however, the power has been extended to sector magistrates, according to Section 21,” added the Deputy Commissioner, who is also District Returning Officer.<br /><br />Addressing the media at the Zilla Panchayat auditorium, Vishwanath said central magistrates as well as leaders of flying squads and static surveillance teams were given the special powers, starting Monday itself. <br /><br />“The executive magistrates have been elevated to special executive magistrates,” he added.<br /><br />Inspection and staff<br /><br />“Most of the election work within the government offices has been completed. Now, election officers as well as tahsildars will undertake surveillance work to prevent any criminal activities related to the upcoming elections. They will also tour their respective constituencies to keep watch over the ongoings,” said the DC.<br /><br />The number of staff in the flying squads has been doubled. Every team will now have six instead of the earlier three members, he added.<br /><br />“All sector officers have been provided vehicles to undertake vigilance work round the clock. Every officer has been therefore given the responsibility of eight to 10 election centres,” said Vishwanath.<br /><br />A fresh round of training was organised for the polling booth officers and their assistants on Monday. Additional training will be provided soon, he added.<br /><br />127 complaints<br /><br />As many as 127 complaints have been registered so far in relation to elections, said the DC. “We have booked 81 complaints via call centres and an additional 46 complaints online. All complaints have been inspected and investigation is on,” he said.<br /><br />Bank staff have been instructed to inform the election officers if they find transactions exceeding Rs 10 lakh and, under suspicious circumstances, even if the crosses Rs one lakh, said the DC.<br /></p>
<p>Sector magistrates are given special powers to invigilate areas and confiscate unlicensed campaign materials, said Deputy Commissioner D S Vishwanath on Monday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>“According to the CRPC Section 20, only the deputy commissioner, assistant commissioner and tahsildars are given powers to inspect and seize illegal items. As a preventive measure against crime related to the ongoing elections, however, the power has been extended to sector magistrates, according to Section 21,” added the Deputy Commissioner, who is also District Returning Officer.<br /><br />Addressing the media at the Zilla Panchayat auditorium, Vishwanath said central magistrates as well as leaders of flying squads and static surveillance teams were given the special powers, starting Monday itself. <br /><br />“The executive magistrates have been elevated to special executive magistrates,” he added.<br /><br />Inspection and staff<br /><br />“Most of the election work within the government offices has been completed. Now, election officers as well as tahsildars will undertake surveillance work to prevent any criminal activities related to the upcoming elections. They will also tour their respective constituencies to keep watch over the ongoings,” said the DC.<br /><br />The number of staff in the flying squads has been doubled. Every team will now have six instead of the earlier three members, he added.<br /><br />“All sector officers have been provided vehicles to undertake vigilance work round the clock. Every officer has been therefore given the responsibility of eight to 10 election centres,” said Vishwanath.<br /><br />A fresh round of training was organised for the polling booth officers and their assistants on Monday. Additional training will be provided soon, he added.<br /><br />127 complaints<br /><br />As many as 127 complaints have been registered so far in relation to elections, said the DC. “We have booked 81 complaints via call centres and an additional 46 complaints online. All complaints have been inspected and investigation is on,” he said.<br /><br />Bank staff have been instructed to inform the election officers if they find transactions exceeding Rs 10 lakh and, under suspicious circumstances, even if the crosses Rs one lakh, said the DC.<br /></p>
