SHILLONG: The East Khasi Hills district administration has prohibited defacement of public and private property by way of wall writings and erection of hoardings and cut outs in the run up to the KHADC by-poll.
In a statement issued here on Monday, the East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner, who is the Returning Officer, said that to ensure peaceful conduct of the upcoming by-election to the KHADC, the district magistrate issued an order under section 144 CrPC prohibiting all the contesting candidates or their agents or the political parties from wall writing etc.
“Pasting of posters/papers or defacement in any other form, or erecting/displaying of cutouts, hoardings, banners among others on any public property/private premises are banned,” the order said.
According to the order, no political party or candidate will be allowed to put banners on roads/thoroughfares, or write on the walls or erect/displaying cutouts, hoardings without written permission from the house owners and final approval from the office of the Returning Officer, East Khasi Hills.
“No election meeting would be allowed without permission from the office of the Returning Officer, East Khasi Hills and subsequently local headmen regarding the venue of the meeting,” the order said, and added that no P.A. system will be allowed to be used between 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM and in case of P.A. system/loud speakers which are used without permission from the Returning Officer, East Khasi Hills, the same will be seized immediately by local authorities.
Moreover, no rallies and procession will be allowed without the permission from the Returning Officer.
This order will be effective throughout the three district council constituencies– Nongkrem, Laban-Mawprem and Nongspung-Sohiong–going into poll for the KHADC by-election, and it will come into force with immediate effect.
Meanwhile, the District Magistrate, East Khasi Hills has promulgated an order under section 144 CrPC prohibiting person or group of persons from carrying cash above Rs. 50,000 in the three district council constituencies.
The order has been issued in view of the information received that some people are likely to carry large amount of hard cash to bribe the voters for casting their vote in favour of a particular candidate and that such action, if allowed, would affect the conduct of free and fair by-poll to the KHADC.
This order will come into force with immediate effect and remain till the completion of election process.
Ban on arms, liquor
East Khasi Hills DC PS Dkhar has under section 144 of CrPC ordered all arms license holders in Nongkrem, Laban-Mawprem and Nongspung-Sohiong constituencies to deposit their arms along with photo copies of their license at the respective police stations. The DC has also prohibited carrying of arms by any person.
The District Administration has also put a ban on sale of liquor in Nongkrem, Laban-Mawprem and Nongspung-Sohiong constituencies in view of the council by-polls.
