Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Police Seize Over 200 Mobile Phones from Polling Booths
Police in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar took decisive action on Thursday. They seized more than two hundred cellphones from inside polling booths across the city. This major operation followed direct complaints from booth level officers.
Booth Level Officers Alert Authorities
Booth level officers, known as BLOs, reported the violations to police. They alerted authorities that polling agents were using cellphones inside the booths. This happened despite clear and repeated instructions banning such use entirely.
Police teams immediately sprang into action. They conducted thorough checks at multiple polling stations. Officers confiscated the devices from anyone found flouting the strict rules.
Police Commissioner Explains the Action
Commissioner of Police Pravin Pawar spoke about the operation. He stated the action was necessary to uphold the sanctity of the polling process. "On the basis of complaints received from polling officials, we seized over 200 mobile phones," Pawar said.
He emphasized the clear rule. The use of mobile phones is strictly not allowed inside polling booths. Polling officials had instructions to enforce this rule without any exception.
The commissioner confirmed the seized phones were handed over to the polling officials. He also directed these officials to lodge formal complaints against the violators.
Legal Action to Follow Seizure
Commissioner Pawar outlined the next steps. "Once complaints are filed, FIRs will be registered against the users of these mobile phones," he explained. This legal action will proceed according to the relevant provisions of the law.
Serious Risks of Phones in Booths
Police officials highlighted the serious risks involved. The presence of mobile phones inside polling booths creates multiple dangers. These include:
- Possibility of photographing ballot papers or electronic voting machines.
- Risk of recording videos inside the polling station.
- Potential for transmitting live updates from within the booths.
Such acts could directly compromise voter secrecy. They also open the door to undue influence or the spread of misinformation during the critical election process.
Crackdown Curtails Real-Time Sharing
Commissioner Pawar noted an immediate benefit of the crackdown. It helped put a check on live happenings from inside polling booths being shared outside. "This action effectively curtailed attempts to share real-time developments from within polling stations," he stated.
He called this a clear violation of established election norms. The police action served as a strong deterrent against such practices, ensuring a more secure and secret voting environment for all citizens.
