Drugs distributed to voters in Delhi polls – The Pioneer – 9.4.12

Contraband drugs appear to be a new trend to catch them young and to woo voters in  t he  ongoing  Muni c ipa l Corporation of Delhi polls. Distribution of drugs, rarely heard in the run-up to the  elections,  has been reported in the Capital and has set alarm bells ringing. So far there used to be reports of free and illegal distribution of liquor or money before the polls.  “Such complaints have been received from several places. There is a particular c o m p l a i n t   a b  o u t d  i  s  t  r  i  b u t  i  o n   o f  c o  c a i n e   i n Seelampur area by a c a n d i d a t e .   T h e c o m p l a i n a n t   h a s noted that a female c a n d i d a t e   a l o n g with some of her supporters were openly flaying the model code of conduct by distributing the particular drug,” said a senior official in State Election Commission.  While stringent measures would be in vogue to keep miscreants at bay on the polling day, complaints are pouring in about the distribution of freebies ahead of the civic polls. The State Election Commission has received several complainants alleging violation of model code of conduct by distribution of drugs and liquor in some pockets of the city.  Apart from cocaine, the complainant has alleged that the supporters  of a particular candidate in the area were carrying firearms along in the ward. “The husband of the candidate against whom complaint has been received is serving detention. The complainant has mentioned that her husband’s friends were carrying weapons along with the contestant during campaigning in the ward,” the official said.

The civic body elections in the Capital are slated on April 15. Around 55 poling booths have been classified as hypersensitive, while 273 fall in sensitive slots. The hypersensitive, according to an official, would witness heavy deployment of armed police personnel to thwart any untoward incident. “Allegations against candidates indulging in serving liquor and lunch at some places have b  e  e n   r e p  o r  t e d .   Ho w e  v e r,   e f  f e  c  t  i v e   m e  a s u r e s   h a v e   been invoked to deter such practices,” the official added.  In the hypersensitive slot, extra deployments have been marked so that polling take p l  a c e   i n   a   f  r e e   m a n n e r. Instead of staves, the police personnel, the official said, w o u l d   b  e   a r  m e d   w i t h weapons at hypersensitive places to check any untoward incident. To keep away from the vigil, it was learnt t h at   c andidat e s   s  e r  v e   t h e l i q u o r   t  h  r o u g  h   v e  n d o r s  instead of stockpiling anything in any place.