By IANS,
New Delhi : The Election Commission has issued 73 notices to detect cases of paid news during the Himachal Pradesh assembly polls process, of which 19 were later confirmed, an official said here. Its 68 assembly segments went to polls Sunday.
Askhay Rout, director general, Election Commission of India, told mediapersons here that the poll panel had taken concerted steps to check cases of paid news in the hill state.
He said the highest number of notices were given in Solan (21) followed by Mandi (20).
Raut said the poll panel’s efforts to boost percentage of voting had yielded positive results.
He said the efforts had been made to tackle voter apathy in urban areas of the state.
Citing example of Shimla town, he said the polling percentage had gone above 50 percent from 47 percent in the previous elections.
Deputy Election Commissioner Alok Shukla said the poll panel had taken steps to guard the electronic voting machines (EVMs) till the counting day Dec 20.
He said EVMs will be kept in strong rooms which will be guarded by para-military forces.
He said arrangements had been made for CCTV in the premises where EVMs will be kept.
Representatives of political parties can sit in the premises where EVMs are kept to satisfy them about the security arrangements, he added.