*Lok Sabha Elections 2024: *100% WEBCASTING OF ALL POLLING BOOTHS IN PUNJAB: CEO SIBIN C

• All 24,433 polling stations covered with CCTV surveillance and additional cameras to be installed outside 1884 polling stations in Punjab

- Punjab CEO takes innovative IT initiatives to make electoral process more efficient and transparent

- Introduces revamped DISE system, mobile voter friendly apps, Web casting of polling station, Vehicle Monitoring and other initiatives for conducting a fair and impartial elections

Chandigarh, March 26:Aiming to make electoral process more efficient and transparent in the Lok Sabha elections 2024, the Chief Electoral Office (CEO) Punjab has introduced major innovative initiatives in the IT sphere, including webcasting at all 24,433 polling stations in the state.

These novel initiatives include the launch of several mobile voter-friendly apps and websites, empowering voters to report election violations via phone, and monitoring the transportation of EVMs, along with installing CCTV cameras at polling stations.

Divulging the further details, the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Sibin C said that they are closely monitoring the election process through 100% webcasting of poll stations. For the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, CCTV surveillance will be ensured inside all 24,433 polling booths, apart from it cameras will be installed outside 1884 polling stations in all 13 constituencies where there are three or more polling stations.

Sibin C said that they have introduced a revamped NextGen District Information System for Elections (DISE) this time. It will be used to manage all aspects of elections, from collecting data of polling staff to scheduling rehearsals, randomizing polling staff and counting staff. The CEO said that this modernization aims to make elections more efficient, transparent, and secure.

The CEO said that this web-based application is utilized to integrate available employee data from other applications using APIs/CSV/Excel files. It will also assist in managing staff shortages after the initial stage by deploying additional staff.

In another initiative, the CEO said that live streaming from flying squad vehicles (FSV), and static surveillance teams are monitoring violations of the model code of conduct during election process. The poll activity management system (PAMS) used for deploying polling parties and updating voting information, such as the commencement of polling and the status of voter queues at closing hours, has also been revamped to enhance the efficiency of election-related activities. The mobile app will provide real-time data.

The CEO further said that other innovative initiatives by the Election Commission of India, including the Voter Helpline APP, providing citizens with convenience in finding their names in the electoral roll, submitting online forms, downloading their digital photo voter slip, filing complaints, and receiving replies on their mobile app.

Another crucial initiative is the mobile application 'Know Your Candidate,' allowing electors to access details and criminal background of any candidate. This app aims to provide wider publicity and greater awareness regarding the criminal background of contesting candidates to ensure transparent elections. It is available for download on Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

The CEO said that other novel initiatives by the ECI, including the launch of mobile voter-friendly app cVIGIL, which enables people to report the Model Code of Conduct violations, featuring live photo/video with live location. Any citizen can lodge a complaint through this mobile app, after which Flying Squads investigate the matter, and the Returning Officer takes a decision within 100 minutes, utilizing GPS to track the violation's location.

Likewise, the CEO said that Saksham-ECI, an application enabling Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) to request new registration, address changes, alter particulars, and mark themselves as PwD. The app offers voice assistance, text-to-speech, accessibility features, among others, catering to the needs of PwDs during the electoral process.

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PVS SPEAKER KULTAR SINGH SANDHWAN CONDOLES DEMISE OF JAGEER SINGH JAGTAR

Chandigarh, March 26:Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker S. Kultar Singh Sandhwan, on Tuesday, expressed deep grief over the sad demise of Jageer Singh Jagtar.

In a press communique issued here, the Speaker stated that the journalism world has suffered a great loss with the demise of Mr. Jageer Singh Jagtar. He said that Mr. Jagtar has served as a journalist (Punjabi Tribune) for a long period of 40 years. He said that Mr. Jagtar’s contribution in the field of journalism will ever be remembered.

The speaker prayed to Almighty to grant eternal peace to the departed soul and to grant strength to the family to bear the loss.

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VIGILANCE BUREAU ARRESTS REVENUE PATWARI FOR TAKING RS 34.70 LAKH BRIBE

Chandigarh March 26 - The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) on Tuesday arrested Revenue Patwari Gurwinder Singh, posted at revenue halqa Pirubanda, East Ludhiana for obtaining Rs 34.70 lakh as a bribe. He has surrendered before the VB range Ludhiana after the High Court has rejected his bail application. In this corruption case, brother and father of said Patwari along with his agent Nikku have also been booked for conspiring with him in accepting the bribe.

Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the state VB said this case has been registered on the basis of a complaint lodged by Babbu Tanwar, a resident of Rampura Phool town; district Bathinda against the said Patwari and his private agent on the Chief Minister's Anti Corruption Action Line. The complainant had alleged that the accused had accepted a bribe amount of Rs 40,000 for sanctioning mutation of a property of his father situated near bus stand Ludhiana which was got registered in the year 1994.

The complainant further alleged to the VB that the above mentioned Patwari and his agent Nikku had also taken Rs 3,40,000 for purchasing two 'I-phones' along with smart watches as well as Pakistani shoes costing Rs 3 lakhs from him. In addition to this, the complainant had spent an amount of Rs 80,000 on birthday party of Nikku, a middleman of said Patwari.

The spokesperson informed that during the probe it was found that above said Patwari, his accomplice Nikku, Parmjeet Singh father and Balwinder Singh brother of said Patwari, in connivance with each another, had obtained bribes amounting to Rs 27,50,000 on four occasions in lieu of above said motive.

He informed that as per the verification, the above said Patwari neither did the mutation of property in question nor returned the amount obtained from the complainant for this purpose which proved that the duo accused has cheated him even after taking bribes.

He further added that in this regard a FIR No 29 dated 24-11-2023 under section 7 and 7-A of Prevention of Corruption Act and under section 420, 120-B of IPC had already been registered at VB police station Ludhiana range against Patwari Gurwinder Singh, his accomplice Nikku including brother and father of Patwari after finding them guilty for demanding and accepting bribes and hatching a conspiracy in connivance with each other. He further informed that the father and brother of Patwari had already got their bails from the court but High Court has rejected his bail application.

Since then Raids were being conducted to arrest Gurwinder Singh Patwari and his associate Nikku. So now founding no other alternative the said Patwari has surrendered himself

before the VB range Ludhiana. He would be produced in the competent court tomorrow. Further investigation into this case was under progress and his accomplice would be arrested soon, he added.

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VIGILANCE BUREAU ARRESTS GURDASPUR SP READER FOR ACCEPTING RS 5,000 BRIBE

Accused police personnel already taken Rs 5,000

Chandigarh, March 26, 2024 - The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB), during its ongoing campaign against corruption in the state, on Tuesday has apprehended Gurpartap Singh, Sub Inspector (local rank), posted as reader to SP Headquarters, Gurdaspur red handed while he was accepting a bribe of Rs 5,000.

Disclosing this here today an official spokesperson of the state VB said the above mentioned accused has been arrested on a complaint lodged by Chander Shekhar Azad, a resident of Dinanagar town, Gurdaspur district.

He further informed that the complainant has approached the VB and alleged that the said police personal have demanded Rs 10,000 in lieu of sending police enquiry report in his favour. The complainant further added that the accused had already taken Rs 5000 in this regard and demanding the remaining balance of bribe.

He further added that after a preliminary inquiry on this complaint a VB team has laid a trap and the accused was caught red handed while accepting the second installment of Rs 5,000 in the presence of two official witnesses.

He further added that in this regard a case under Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered at VB police station Amritsar range. The accused would be produced in the competent court tomorrow and further investigation into this case was under progress, he said.

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PUNJAB POLICE & EXCISE DEPARTMENT JOINTLY KEEPING VIGIL AROUND BOOTLEGGERS

— SPL DGP ARPIT SHUKLA ACCOMPANIED BY PETC VARUN ROOJAM CHAIRS STATE-LEVEL MEETING OF DCs & CPs/SSPs

— STRONG INTER-STATE NAKAS ALREADY IN PLACE IN 10 BORDER DISTRICTS OF PUNJAB

— ENSURE EFFECTIVE ACTION AGAINST PEOPLE FOUND SELLING/SMUGGLING ILLICIT OR SPURIOUS LIQUOR, SAYS SPL DGP ARPIT SHUKLA

CHANDIGARH, March 26:To ensure free, fair and peaceful forthcoming General Elections 2024, Special Director General of Police (Spl DGP) Law and Order Arpit Shukla on Tuesday, directed all the Police officers to work as one team with the Excise and Taxation department to keep vigil around the bootleggers.

The Special DGP accompanied by Punjab Excise and Taxation Commissioner (PETC) Varun Roojam was virtually chairing a state-level meeting of senior officers of the Excise and Taxation Department and all the Deputy Commissioners and CPs/SSPs of the state at Punjab Police Headquarters here. Punjab Financial Commissioner, Taxation Vikas Pratap also joined the meeting through VC.

Pertinently, to keep a tab at drug trafficking and liquor smuggling, Punjab Police have already laid well-coordinated strong inter-state at all the sealing points of 10 border districts in the state, which share boundaries with four border states and UT Chandigarh. The 10 inter-state border districts include Pathankot, Sri Muktsar Sahib, Fazilka, Ropar, SAS Nagar, Patiala, Sangrur, Mansa, Hoshiarpur and Bathinda.

Special DGP Arpit Shukla asked all the CPs/SSPs to take Excise officers along while conducting checking of vehicles at static or mobile nakas and ensure effective action against people found indulged in selling/smuggling of illicit or spurious liquor.

He also directed officers to intensify checking at villages, especially in Mand areas, which are infamous for making Lahan (raw material used to make liquor). He also asked them to take preventive action against bootleggers/unscrupulous elements, who are history-sheeters or facing criminal cases under serious offences.

Meanwhile, PETC Varun Roojam asked the officers to keep vigil at dilapidated buildings, marriage palaces, godowns and other suspected points where liquor can be stored. He also suggested the officers concerned to thoroughly probe the records of L-17A license bearers.