Kakatpur: Puri district administration has beefed up security to ensure free and fair elections in Kakatpur Assembly constituency that comes under Jagatsinghpur Parliamentary seat.
Police and flying squads have been carrying out search operations at various places for last several days to check distribution of money liquor among voters, sources said.
A flying squad led by Astarang block additional block development officer (BDO) and executive magistrate Manoj Behera and Astarang police in-charge Ranjan Kumar Mallick seized around Rs 3 lakh from an SUV on Astarang-Kakatpur main road Saturday night.
“We have seized Rs 3,02,770 from an SUV during a search operation Saturday night. The vehicle owner claimed that he was carrying money for the wedding ceremony of his sister. We are trying to collect further information in this regard. The vehicle has been kept at Astarang police station,” said a police officer.
In another development, BSF and armed police personnel Sunday carried out flag marches near several sensitive booths at Talada, Bhandisahi, Malada, Patasundarpur, Balidia, Beguniabast and Olara villages in Kakatpur constituency ahead of the April 29 elections.
“We made special security arrangements for all sensitive booths in Astarang area. We would take stern action against any type of disturbances near polling booths,” said Astarang IIC Ranjan Kumar Mallick.