Team Herald

MARGAO: With the panchayat elections around the corner, the Salcete police are gearing up to improve the security within its jurisdictions and keep a check on sale of liquor.

Colva PI Filomena Costa said that as elections are to be held on August 10, the sale of alcohol has been prohibited after 10 pm and added that he has directed his staff including a police sub inspector on duty to intensify patrolling in the coastal belt.

He said that with the Election Commission announcing the schedule for panchayat polls and the Model Code of Conduct in force, they were maintaining a close watch on antisocial elements with the help of a specially constituted police team.

It may be recalled that Margao police had seized liquor bottles worth Rs 10,000 in a raid conducted at Aquem, Margao.

The seized booze was bought by some unknown persons for distribution and on seeing the police, they fled from the site

leaving the bottles behind. Police have conducted the panchanama and are in search of alleged accused behind the crime.