In view of the adjourned poll to the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, the Deputy Commissioner (Excise) of East Khasi Hills district has declared May 8, 9 and 10, 2023 as dry days.
This is on account of these being the pre-polling and polling days. Also May 13 has been declared as a dry day on account of being the day of counting of votes.
This order is applicable in all areas falling under Sohiong (ST) Assembly Constituency.
Staff Reporter
Shillong, March 30: The East Khasi Hills district administration has directed all license holders to deposit their arms and ammunition without fail in the nearest police station, outpost and beat house during the ongoing model code of conduct enforced on account of the ensuing election to the adjourned poll to the Sohiong assembly constituency.
Non-compliance will result in the imposition of penalties prescribed under Section 25, IB, (h) which reads that failure to deposit arms or ammunition as required by Sub Section (l) of Section 21 “shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than (one year) but which may extend to three years and shall also be liable to fine”, the order said.
Staff Reporter
Shillong, March 30: The East Khasi Hills district administration has kept all measures in place to ensure peaceful conduct of the adjourned poll to the Sohiong constituency by implementing the code of conduct and prevention of defacement of public and private properties by all contesting candidates or political parties within the district.
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The election will be held on May 10 and counting will be on May 13.
The order issued by the District Election Officer (DEO) has prohibited all contesting candidates, agents and political parties from wall writing, pasting of posters or papers or defacement in any other form or erecting or displaying of cut-outs, hoardings, banners etc on any public property or premises.
It said no political parties or candidates will be allowed to put up banners on all roads or thoroughfares, No wall writing, pasting of posters or papers or defacement in any other form or erecting or displaying of cut-outs, hoardings, banners etc, shall be permitted on any private property, private walls without written permission from the house-owners and final approval from the office of the undersigned.
No election meeting would be allowed without taking permission from the office of the undersigned and subsequently local headmen regarding the venue of the meeting. No PA system will be allowed to be used between 10 pm to 6 am.
In case of PA systems or loudspeakers which are used without permission from the undersigned, the same would be seized immediately by the local authorities. No rallies and processions will be allowed without permission from the undersigned.
Meanwhile, the district administration has also prohibited any person or group of persons from carrying money above Rs 50,000 only, in East Khasi Hills District.
It said that information was received that some persons are likely to carry a large amount of hard cash to bribe the voters for casting their votes in favour of a particular candidate
That such action, if allowed, would affect the conduct of a free and fair election of the adjourned poll to the Sohiong constituency and is likely to cause frustration, quarrel and fights between members of the public, leading to law and order problems, breach of peace and tranquillity ultimately resulting to loss of life and property, the order said.