India general elections 2024: Mumbai police make over 200 preventive arrests; 46 held under anti-drugs law

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The Mumbai police held extensive drills, made over 200 preventive arrests and took action against drug peddlers to ensure the smooth and safe conduct of India general elections 2024 in the metropolis, an official said on Sunday, reported PTI.

In the past two days, the police have nabbed seven wanted accused, arrested 17 persons facing non-bailable warrants and took action against 46 people under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, he said. Polling will be held in six seats in Mumbai and seven others in the fifth and final phase of India general elections 2024 in Maharashtra on May 20, reported PTI.

Over 30,000 policemen have been deployed across the city to maintain law and order during voting, which will be held between 7 am and 6 pm, the official said.
Patrolling in sensitive areas is being conducted, while checkpoints have been set up at several places, he said, reported PTI.

Action has been taken against 31 people after illegal weapons were recovered from them, he said, while 25 persons were held in connection with gambling and sale of liquor in the past two days, he said.

The police have arrested 212 people on their records under preventive measures. The official said that 5,836 vehicles were checked of which 1,558 vehicles have been penalised for violations. More than 700 hotels, lodges and guest houses were also checked in these two days, he added, reported PTI.

Meanwhile, in view of the fifth phase of voting in the six of Mumbai's Lok Sabha constituencies, Mumbai Police Commissioner Vivek Phansalkar said that police personnel were deployed at polling booths yesterday itself, reported news agency ANI.

"This is a very big day. Polling is being held in 6 parliamentary constituencies in Mumbai. Voters are arriving peacefully and casting their vote. I urge all the voters in Mumbai to vote," said the Police Commissioner, reported ANI.

Assuring the voters in the ongoing India general elections 2024, he said, "Mumbai police will stay alert till the entire voting procedure gets done," reported ANI.

Notably, elections in 6 Lok Sabha seats in Mumbai are underway for Phase 5. The seats are Mumbai North, Mumbai North West, Mumbai North East, Mumbai North Central, Mumbai South and Mumbai South Central. The other constituencies of Maharashtra that are a part of the ongoing election in the fifth phase include Dhule, Dindori, Nashik, Kalyan, Palghar, Bhiwandi and Thane. Maharashtra has 48 Lok Sabha seats, the second largest after Uttar Pradesh.

The India general elections 2024 are being held in seven phases, running from April 19 to June 1. The results will be declared on June 4. The voting started at 7 am and will continue until 6 pm, with those in line by the closing time still allowed to vote. As per the ECI, over 8.95 crore voters, including 4.69 crore males, 4.26 crore females, and 5409 third-gender electors, will decide the fate of 695 candidates in the fifth phase of voting.

(With inputs from ANI and PTI)