Strict action against poll code violation: DC

Security to be beefed in Naxal-hit areas

Deputy Commissioner Umesh H Kusugal said, criminal cases would be filed against persons using party symbols or photographs of leaders from political parties during campaigning for Grama Panchayat polls.

During a meeting of representatives of various political parties, here, on Saturday, he said, the Election Commission has issued specific guidelines to prevent campaigning using symbols of political parties or depicting a candidate as representing any party. Any violation of the guidelines would be strictly dealt with, he said.

He said, there have been no serious complaints regarding violation of model code of conduct, ever since the polls were announced. Voters should file a written complaint if they notice any violation, he added. He said, 389 polling booths in the district are sensitive, 230 are hyper-sensitive and 1,144 are classified as normal.

Naxal-affected areasSpeaking at the meeting, Superintendent of Police Raman Gupta said, four polling booths at Hongadahalla GP were identified as Naxal-affected polling booths. “However, no Naxal activity has been reported under the GP limits since September 2012. Yet, armed personnel will be deputed to guard the polling booths,” he said.