CEO reviews poll preparedness

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Feb 14 : Chief Electoral Officer conducted a review-meeting today at 11 am at the CEO’s Office, Lamphel with all agencies/Departments involved in Election Expenditure Monitoring on the steps taken up by them ahead of the Assembly election.
As per a statement from the CEO, the Departments/agencies that attended the meeting include Income Tax Department; Excise Department; State Taxation; CBIC (Central Board of indirect taxes & Customs) & DRI (Directorate of Revenue Intelligence); NCB (Narcotics Control Bureau); SLBC (State Level Banking Convener) & RBI; ED (Enforcement Directorate); CISF; AAI (Airport Authority of India) & BCAS (Bureau of Civil Aviation Security); Posts and BSF.
The review-meeting was held in line with the inputs/advice given by the Election Commission of India in the meeting held on February 8 with the above agencies/Departments. The importance of stepping up action on enforcement in the coming 2 (two) weeks was stressed upon all by the CEO as distribution of cash, liquor, freebies etc is expected to increase during this period.
The statement shared that the Income Tax Department was instructed to analyse and investigate sources of funding of substantial seizures reported by other agencies/ Departments to enable booking/conviction of involved individuals/parties.
Further, the Excise Department was informed to intensify raids and seizures of liquor in the State by strengthening check-points at border areas, storage locations and sensitive points. The State Taxation Department was instructed to increase monitoring of E-way bill checking, identify distribution of freebies by analysing the upsurge in demand of items in the coming days and to work in coordination with the central GST officials in the State. The CBIC and DRI officials discussed sharing of information and monitoring on transportation of items into the State through the international border. They were directed to coordinate with Customs authorities also.
Regarding drugs and narcotics, the NCB and State Police were instructed to intensify efforts for destruction of poppy-cultivation and to file F.I.Rs against involved citizens of the area where such cultivation occurs. The SLBC officials were instructed to enforce submission of reports of suspicious transactions regularly to the DEOs and Income Tax officials.
The CISF, AAI and BCAS officials were informed about sharing of information and intelligence about arrival of passengers and baggage via scheduled flights, chartered flights, helicopters etc. among the various agencies/Departments and Flying Squads of DEOs to enable seizure of any illicit, illegal items etc.