Committed to holding free and fair polls: DC

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, April 21

Deputy Commissioner Varinder Kumar Sharma today asked the Assistant Returning Officers (AROs) to be more vigilant to ensure effective and transparent functioning of the expenditure monitoring teams in the district.

In a communiqué to the AROs, the DC said the district administration was committed to hold free, fair and transparent polls in Jalandhar. He said for this purpose, the effective functioning of the expenditure monitoring teams was a basic necessity and the nakas set up by the static surveillance teams must be ensured in all the assembly segments falling in Jalandhar Lok Sabha seat.

He said special thrust must be laid on the checking of bus stands and railway stations by the flying squad teams fitted with GPS-enabled video cameras in the district. The flying squad teams must also conduct a surprise checking at the vulnerable areas and at liquor vends to monitor any illegal activity and check the timing of opening and closing of the vends. Sharma also asked the AROs to personally supervise the activities of the flying squads, adding that any team, if not effective, must be identified and given proper directions to improve its functioning.

The Deputy Commissioner said the AROs must ensure that flying squads must be directed to regularly hold the checking of storage points of liquor in the district and they should play an active role in setting up an effective mechanism for monitoring expenditure during the polls.