25 cricket kits intended to lure voters seized in north Kashmir; two people arrested

Srinagar, Sept 22: Police on Sunday said it seized 25 cricket kits in north Kashmir's Kupwara that were supposed to be given as a freebie among the youth by a former minister contesting elections from the area.

Police said that it received an official communication from the election magistrate FST-Ist Trehgam regarding the seizure of a vehicle suspected of violating the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).

"Two persons including the vehicle driver has been arrested and an FIR under number 218/2024 has also been registered," Kupwara Police wrote on their official X-handle.

Quoting a police officer, news agency NVI reported that a load carrier under registration no. JK04B 5496 was intercepted by the election magistrate's team at Gushi, Kupwara and that 25 cricket kits were seized from it.

Kupwara Police,acting on communication from Election Magistrate FST-Ist Trehgam,seized a vehicle carrying 25 cricket kits intended for illegal distribution to influence voters. FIR No. 218/2024 registered, 2 arrests made.Strict action will be taken to uphold the MCC. pic.twitter.com/TU8LRwo0QQ

— DISTRICT POLICE KUPWARA. (@KupwaraCops) September 21, 2024

"The driver has been detained along with another person," said the police official.

Initial investigations revealed that the material was intended for distribution among the youth in the locality as illegal gratifications to lure the voters, a clear violation of the MCC guidelines, said the official.