Onthe directions of the Election Commission, authorities have seized cash amountof Rs 8.80 crore and drugs, gold and silver ornaments valued at Rs 23.01 crorein a bid to ensure a free, fair and safe Assembly polls in Assam.
AssamChief Electoral officer Nitin Khade on Friday said that the Assam Police, stateexcise department, Income Tax department, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence,Narcotics Control Bureau, flying squads, static surveillance teams and otherregulatory agencies have been working round-the-clock to detect any suspiciousmovement of cash, liquor, valuables, narcotics across the state since theElection Commission has announced the dates of the polls.
Hesaid that besides the cash amount of Rs 8.80 crore, liquor worth of Rs 7.68crore, gold, silver ornaments valued at Rs 1.46 crore, heroin, marijuana andbrown sugar worth of around Rs 10.18 crore, cigarettes of foreign origin, poppyseeds, contraband tablets valued at Rs 3.69 crore have been seized.
Electionsto the 126-member Assam Assembly will be held in three phases. Phase one willsee polling for 47 constituencies on March 27 while in the second phase pollingwould be held for 39 seats on April 1 and the remaining 40 constituencies willgo to the polls on April 6.
Theresults will be declared on May 2.