General Observer Shopian reviews poll preparedness

Shopian, Sep 02: General Observer for Shopian Assembly Constituency, Roohi Khan today chaired a meeting with Nodal Officers at Mini Secretariat, here to review and assess the preparations for the upcoming assembly elections in the 37- Shopian assembly constituency.

The meeting was attended by various constituency nodal officers and district nodal officers responsible for different election-related activities.

During the meeting, the Police Nodal Officer apprised the Observer about the arms deposition, status of NDPS, PSA and UAPA cases. It was intimated that out of 12 arms licenses in the Shopian AC, 12 arms have been deposited with concerned police stations and 02 arms impounded.

The police officials accompanying the FSTs need to be sensitised more on removal of campaign materials like banners, flags etc from government properties, General Observer stressed, while also asking for observance of guidelines on displaying campaign permissions by candidates in their vehicles and sought compliance from Flying Squads.

The Observer was informed that three Flying Squads are working in the Shopian AC to keep watch on the movement of large amounts of cash, arms and ammunition, items of bribe and illegal liquor.

Returning Officer, Shopian was asked to share daily reports of complaints registered on C-vigil and offline mode whereas BDOs and EO MC were tasked to conduct sanitation drives on pre-poll and poll day and ensure sanitation around the polling stations.

The Observer called upon MC Shopian to ensure compliance of MCC in the town, instructing to keep watch on usage of government properties for campaigning and publicity through media, rented out spaces, locations identified for campaign/ advertising with rates for the awareness of candidates.

Since BLOs remain busy with election related activities on the poll day, BDOs, CMO, CDPOs, CEO were asked to depute their field functionaries like PS, GRS, NYCs, ASHAs and AWWs to help BLOs and manage the Help Desks along with queue.

Roohi Khan called upon ROs to watch over the pace of voting on poll day and to take call to deploy extra staff from reserve parties for gearing up polling, in case of slow polling in order to facilitate appreciable voter turnouts and also emphasized on making medical arrangements in place across the Polling stations of the assembly constituency.

The meeting concluded with directives from the Observer to all officers to ensure meticulous planning and execution to facilitate the smooth conduct of the elections.