IT Dept, Police gear up to ensure free, fair polls

Surjit Kumar Dhal,Bhubaneswar, March 12: Even as political parties on Odisha geared up for the 2019 General Elections after the model code of conduct came into effect following the Election Commission announcement of poll dates, the Income Tax (IT) department and the State Police have geared up to ensure free and fair elections across the State.

The IT department has set up a 24X7 functional control room at Ayakar Bhawan in Bhubaneswar and issued a toll free number – 1800 345 7160 through which people can lodge poll-related income tax complaints and information related to unaccounted cash flow during or before the elections.

All the District Collectors have been asked to extensively publicise the newly implemented facility in the IT department.

The Odisha Police on Monday held a meeting at its headquarters in Cuttack and discussed the preparedness and security arrangements for the upcoming general elections in the State.

The meeting discussed about the security arrangements during the visit of Prime Minister, Union Ministers, leaders from various political parties and other prominent personalities during campaigning.

The high-level meeting chaired by DGP RP Sharma and attended by Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Police Commissioner Satyajit Mohanty, IGs, DIGs, DCPs, SPs of all the districts, officials of Intelligence and Special Protection Group (SPG) discussed on the guidelines and SOPs to be focussed and implemented while providing security cover to VVIPs visiting the State.

Notably, Odisha will have election in four phases starting April 11, 2019.

The other three phases will be conducted on April 18, 23 and 29.

The counting of votes for all the Lok Sabha and Assembly constituencies will be done on May 23.