Squads to keep out poster menace

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE, OCT. 30. The Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP), in association with the City police and the Bangalore Urban District authorities, has made elaborate arrangements for the conduct of the BMP Council elections scheduled for November 11.

Squads have been formed in each of the 12 Legislative Assembly constituencies for vigilance against the poster menace and disfigurement of public places.

The BMP Commissioner, Mr. Ashok M. Dalwai, said here on Tuesday, that each squad, headed by a senior BMP officer, would maintain a strict vigil for any violation of the Karnataka Disfigurement of Public Places (Prevention) Act in areas under their jurisdiction.

Addressing presspersons, he said the returning officers (ROs) of the 28 ranges had been authorised to grant permission to the candidates to put up banners and buntings. The ROs had been asked to limit grant of permission for between 25 and 30 banners or buntings, depending on the size of the ward, he added.

Mr. Dalwai said that any person found using publicity material without the BMP's permission would be penalised, and a case booked against him. The BMP had framed guidelines to ensure that public and private property in the City was not disfigured. ``The candidates are not supposed to put up banners across roads (from one tree to another), and they should not paste publicity material on walls. Publicity material that can be hung should be used,'' he added.

Plea for cooperation: Mr. Dalwai said that though the squads started work on Monday, citizens should come forward and inform the BMP of any violation of the guidelines in their areas. Twelve special executive magistrates had been appointed for vigilance against violation of the election code of conduct, he added.

Ban on sale of liquor: With a view to ensuring free and fair polls, the Bangalore Urban District authorities have banned the sale of alcoholic drinks from the midnight of November 9 to November 13.

Mr. Dalwai said Mr. D.S. Ashwath, Deputy Commissioner, Bangalore Urban District, had issued an order notifying the ban.

Over 28 excise teams will conduct raids and check unauthorised sale of liquor. Mr. Ashwath said the teams would take action to keep an eye on distribution of alcoholic drinks by candidates to woo voters.

Directive on arms: The Deputy Commissioner of

Police (Intelligence), Mr. Ram Subbu, said that as a precautionary measure, the City Police Commissioner, Mr. T. Madiyal, had asked holders of arms licences in the BMP limits to deposit arms with the jurisdictional police stations.

He said the 3,272 polling booths would be provided with adequate security, and 300 vehicles deployed. While each of the 354 ``hypersensitive'' booths would be guarded by a head constable, a police constable and a home guard, each of the 771 sensitive booths would be protected by a police constable and a home guard, he added.

Criminals in fray: Replying to a question, Mr. Dalwai said none of the nomination papers of candidates with a criminal background had been rejected. ``As per the law, we can reject the papers only if the candidate has been convicted for at least two years,'' he added.

He said the BMP was spending over Rs. 2.2 crores on conducting the elections. The State Election Commission had not fixed any ceiling of expenditure for candidates, he added.

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