A detailed review meeting through video conference with the District Election Officers (DEO) and SPs of all districts on poll preparedness, was conducted by CEO, SPNO and the SNO of CAPF on Friday. All vital election related activities, including conduct of COVID safe elections were discussed and observed that districts are fully geared up for the polls. The SPNO and SNO for CAPF deliberated upon the security issues and assured that there will be no dearth of security personnel for ensuring free, fair and peaceful elections. Special emphasis has been given on making the elections Inclusive, Accessible and Participative, by CEO.
Voting by way of postal ballots for absentee voters in the category of 80+ and PwD electors who applied for it, are underway through designated polling teams visiting the houses, under intimation to political parties. For polling personnel and security personnel to be engaged on poll duty, the last date for application for postal ballots is February 21 for Phase-I and February 26 for Phase-II.
Commissioning of EVM/VVPATs are underway in the districts, in presence of the representatives of political parties. The new Symbol Loading Unit which is being used on a pilot basis in Manipur, is working perfectly fine. A big TV screen is used in every commissioning hall to display the symbol loading process to the representatives of political parties. The director in charge of EVM, in ECI and the general manager of ECIL, Hyderabad, will arrive on February 20, to take stock of the functioning of the new Symbol Loading Unit and the entire commissioning process.
Total number of licensed arms deposited till date since August 1, 2022 is 18,080 which is 80.71 per cent and total number of persons bound down U/S 107/116 CrPC till date since August 1, 2021 is 6,437. Number of non-bailable warrants executed so far since August 1, 2021 stands at 68. There has been a significant increase in poppy destruction. Very recently an additional destruction of poppy cultivation in 482 acres with an estimated value of Rs 47.81 crore was carried out taking the total figure at Rs 140.7605214 crore.
Seizure of Gold to the tune of Rs 3.7264628 crore was made on Friday. Cigarettes of foreign origin-14,000 sticks valuing Rs .0168 crore was also seized on Friday. Hence, Friday's total seizure value is Rs 51.6231207 crore. Total Cumulative seizures made so far, is valued at Rs 161.9261668 crore from the date of announcement of elections.
