Media should publish source of election ads: Kumar

Panaji, May 7 (UNI) Election authorities have advised the media to publish the source of all election-oriented advertisements as it is binding on them to do so besides, providing the former with details of advertisers, if necessary, to check election expenditure.

The authorities also urged candidates contesting the June 2 Goa Legislative Assembly elections, to strictly comply with the guidelines and model code of conduct, the notifications for which would be issued tomorrow.

Under section 127 of the People Representatives Act, the media should publish the information as to who had released the election related advertisements and submit details as desired by authorities.

Stating that the returning officer allows candidate along with four of his supporters for filing the nominations from tomorrow even as the procession was restricted to only three vehicles upto each taluka office. Observers would continue to keep a strict vigil on their movements.

''We are videographing all the processions and rallies and related activities as part of monitoring the election expenses even as mobile squads would file FIR's against candidates for defacement of public properties with posters, banners and others and would be prosecuted without any hesitation,'' North Goa District Collector Nikhil Kumar told mediapersons here today.

The authorities will allow movement of those authorised vehicles that obtain permit and no convoy must have more than three vehicles at a time, he said.

In north Goa, authorities have filed 94 FIR's for defacement of public property under the Goa Public Property Defcement Act. Of them 22 are non-cognizable offences.

While efforts are being made to check anti-social elements and history sheeters to ensure free and fair polls, the licence holders of all fire arms have been directed to deposit their arms with the police.

As many as 18 people had been ''bound'' under different sections of the IPC for good behaviour so far in North Goa.

The excise department has also been directed to check stocks and registers besides keeping vigil at the border points. The borders with other States would be sealed two days before the June 2 polls, he said.

The electorate have been urged to collect their Election Photo Identity Cards at respective taluka headquarters and warned against holding duplicate cards.

All arrangements have been made to ensure coverage of at least 85 per cent of the electorate with the EPIC by the end of this month.

UNI