Chief Electoral Officer, Jharkhand, K Ravi Kumar today said that for clean, fair and fear-free elections, it is necessary that strict and immediate action be taken on the matters related to prevention of illegal liquor and drugs. This will facilitate in conducting peaceful, clean, fair and fear-free elections. He directed all the concerned officials to take strict action against the production, storage, distribution, sale and transportation of illegal liquor and drugs and ensure that strict action is taken against the accused involved in it.

He said that there is a need to effectively curb the smuggling of liquor and drugs by preparing a database with profiles of history-sheeters and other accused involved in the drug trade. Today, in view of the Lok Sabha General Elections 2024, he was reviewing district wise the actions taken in this regard by the District Election Officer, Superintendent of Police and Excise Superintendent of the districts through video conferencing on issues related to prevention of illegal liquor and drugs.

The CEO said that alcohol and drugs should not affect the election process. For this, intensify raids at all identified and possible places and take strict action against the accused. He directed to check the initial stock, purchase-sale and closing stock of retailers in large quantities, assess the quantity/value of illicit liquor etc. seized in large quantities through check posts. He also directed the officials to necessarily assess the quantity and value of illicit liquor.

He also reviewed the cases registered and actions taken against the arrested persons after the Model Code of Conduct came into effect. Highlighting the cases of deaths due to poisonous liquor in the last few years, he directed to work with full seriousness. He also reviewed the updated status of the cases filed and ongoing actions against the accused during the control of production, storage, distribution and sale of narcotics.

 State Police Nodal Officer AV. Homkar directed the strictest action for prevention of liquor and drugs. Taking special vigilance in the border areas of the state, he directed to take effective action at every level to ban the storage, distribution, sale and transportation of liquor and intoxicants.

Apart from the above officials, Excise and Prohibition Department Secretary Mukesh Kumar, Additional Chief Electoral Officer Sandeep Singh and Dr. Neha Arora and other senior officials were present in the review meeting.