Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Security officers in J&K imparted training for enhanced surveillance

Election Commission of India. Representation Image.

The preparations ahead of the Lok Sabha elections is undertaken across the country, especially by the Election Commission. On Monday, the officers of enforcement agencies, including police, Army and BSF, were imparted training by the Jammu and Kashmir Election Office to strengthen the election expenditure monitoring mechanism and ensure peaceful conduct of upcoming general elections in the J&K union territory, reported news wire PTI.

The comprehensive one-day training programme was inaugurated by Chief Electoral Officer, J&K Pandurang K Pole, who called for better coordination and enhanced surveillance before and during the Lok Sabha elections 2024. The general elections are expected to be held in April-May this year.

The programme, conducted on Monday, was attended by officers of enforcement agencies including the Police, Army, and BSF, and the officers presented a brief overview of the major actions undertaken by their departments in the past two general elections with a roadmap of action for Lok Sabha elections, PTI reported quoting an official.

The officers from the enforcement agencies were briefed about all the important aspects of expenditure management and asked to enhance surveillance by establishing control rooms at the district level for round-the-clock scrutiny and effective monitoring. The chief electoral officer called for better coordination among the agencies for ensuring peaceful and inducement-free elections.

Specifically targeting potential threats, the electoral officer tasked the BSF and other intelligence agencies with combating narcotics smuggling along the international border and thwarting the circulation of counterfeit currency, added the PTI report. Additionally, a call to action was extended to curtail illicit financial activities, including hawala transactions, stringent regulations on liquor stocking and distribution etc.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has launched a voter awareness programme. The ECI has also signed a MoU with Indian Banking Association (IBA) and Department of Post to amplify voter education and outreach ahead of 2024 Lok Sabha Elections 2024.

"Banks and Post Offices will now carry out voter awareness campaigns across the country. The messaging will reach a wide audience through 1.6 lakh bank branches, over 2 lakh ATMs and 1.55 lakh Post Offices," the ECI said on Monday.

(With PTI inputs)