PANJIM: In a bid to avoid foul play, the Election Commission will take up an extensive drive against the narcotics trade in the coastal villages of Goa. The CEO feels free availability of narcotics and its use can also induce voters.
The trade which has also made inroads in colleges has become a very serious issue in the coastal state, officer of Chief Electoral Office said.
Speaking exclusively to Herald, the Chief Electoral Officer — Goa Kunal said he has already convened meetings of Narcotic Control Bureau (NCB) and Anti-Narcotic Cell (ANC) of Goa Police, both are headed by IPS officers.
The agencies which are actively engaged in curbing the drug trade from Goa’s coast.
He said both the agencies have been given the task to identify and document all drug dealers and peddlers in the coastal areas of the Goa and to keep strict vigil over the activities.
“We will be taking stringent action against dope deals in the state during the process of preparation of state assembly election so that no of the voter is influenced, the drive will also control the flow of cash,” Kunal said.
“Our teams are already in place. The police have been briefed. Surveillance officers have already been deputed along with the flying squads in all the vulnerable areas,” he claimed.
He said curbing the drug menace for free and fair elections is also a mandate of the election commission.
“I personally monitor and read each and every complaint received by the commission and also on social media,” Kunal said
He said the commission will put more and more teams as per requirement of the hour. “Primarily we are compiling the possible list of drug dealers in coastal villages and based on that the surveillance will be increased,” he said.
All flying squads are constantly monitored under GPS, at any given point of time the complaint will be dealt with immediate.
“We are using the social media in a big way to reach out to the people, so that they can share information at any given time through any mode”, Kunal said.
He said all precautions and measures have been taken by the election commission to ensure a free and fair election process.
