According to the police, unaccounted cash, gold and silver, illicit liquor and precious metals worth over Rs 11 crore have been seized since January in nine districts of Uttar Pradesh where assembly elections are to be held on Monday.
The Uttar Pradesh Police said that over 2,000 illegal firearms and 165 kg of explosives have also been recovered while preventive action is taken against 4.40 lakh people who are likely to disturb the peace during elections.
Police said these seizures and action under the Code of Criminal Procedure took place till the second week of February after the model code of conduct came into force in January.
Voting will be held from 7 am to 6 pm on Monday in 55 assembly constituencies of Amroha, Badaun, Bareilly, Bijnor, Moradabad, Rampur, Saharanpur, Sambhal and Shahjahanpur in the western part of the state.
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“In nine districts in the second phase of polling, a total of 1.33 lakh licensed firearms have been deposited with the police since the Model Code of Conduct came into force. Another 16 weapons have been confiscated while 32 arms licenses have been cancelled.
He said, “In view of the possibility of breach of peace during elections, 27,062 action has been taken against 4.77 lakh people under Section 107/116 of CrPC, while 4.40 lakh people have been compelled under Section 116(3) of CrPC. “
According to officials, preventive action in such cases under CrPC provisions refers to surety bonds to be given by those who are likely to cause breach of public peace and cause breach of peace.
Police said they have also recovered 2,053 illegal arms, 1,835 cartridges and 165 kg of explosives during this period.
Police said that according to the instructions of the Election Commission, a total of Rs 3.49 crore unaccounted cash, Rs 2.88 crore precious metals have been seized during the checking till Sunday.
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He said that illicit liquor worth Rs 4.62 crore, narcotics worth Rs 4.03 crore have also been seized since the Model Code of Conduct came into force.
A total of 128 cognizable offenses and 24 non-cognizable offenses have been registered for violation of the code of conduct in Phase II districts so far, while 79 cases have been registered for violation of election related guidelines.
In western Uttar Pradesh, voting was held on February 10 in the first phase of assembly elections for 58 seats in 11 districts. This time elections are being held in seven phases and the results will be declared on March 10.