NEW DELHI: Body frisking of any passenger will not be done during disembarkment at remote uncontrolled airports/helipads unless there is specific information about unauthorised arms or contraband goods being carried during elections.
The airport security has also been asked to instantly inform the Income Tax department on detection of cash exceeding Rs 10 lakh or bullion weighing 1 kg or more in the baggage of aircraft flying to or from any poll-bound state.
While all rules and procedures with regard to frisking and checking of persons and baggage should be enforced without any exception during the election process, any unauthorised arms, contraband goods, cash exceeding Rs 50,000 belonging to any candidate or agent or party functionary shall be investigated and considered for seizure.
This has been clarified by the Election Commission to all poll-bound states following new instructions from government to be adopted for prevention of transport of unauthorised arms, contraband goods and suspicious money/bullion through airports during the conduct of elections.
The law enforcement agencies, like CISF, state police and Income Tax Department have also been asked to develop internal Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) in such a way that the entire event right from detection till seizure or release at the airport is captured by close circuit TVs/video camera.
The modified standard operating procedures of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, a wing of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, come ahead of the assembly elections to five states of Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram, due later this year.
The EC has asked all poll-bound states to put in place proper procedures and machinery to stop any misuse of money power during elections and stop the menace of paid news.
As per the new instructions, at remote/uncontrolled airports/helipads the flying squad or police authorities of state/UT in coordination with the aircraft pilot have been asked to carry out screening/physical checking of all baggage coming out of the craft (excepting the handheld purse or pouch by any passenger).
The Election Commission has expressed concern over reports that during the process of elections, unauthorised arms, contraband goods or large sum of cash/bullion are often transported through chartered aircraft/helicopters/passengers of commercial airlines to poll-bound states, which may disturb the level playing field during elections.
Also, no prior permission for landing or take off of chartered aircraft (including fixed wing aircraft) and helicopters at commercial airports shall be required from District Election Officer (DEO) or Returning Officer (RO).
However, Air Traffic Control (ATC) in commercial airports shall inform the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of the state and the DEO of the district, in which the airport is located, about the travel plan of chartered aircraft or helicopters as early as possible, preferably half an hour in advance.
The ATC during elections shall also keep a record of all such chartered aircraft or helicopters, landing and taking off from commercial airports, time of landing, time of take off and passenger manifest, route plan and make a copy of this information available to CEO of the state and DEO of the district within 3 days after the date of landing/take off.
The CEO/DEO shall make such information available to the Expenditure Observer for verification during inspection. The ATC is also required to make the record available for inspection by Expenditure Observer whenever sought.
Every candidate will also inform the Returning Officer concerned in writing within five days after the landing of aircraft/helicopter, in his constituency about the hiring charges paid/payable to the company owning/leasing the aircraft/helicopter, names of passengers and name of political party (if the party has borne the expense for hiring).
The fresh instructions form part of the compendium of instructions issued by the Election Commission for poll-bound states to follow during the election process and ensure that use of money power and paid news is not there. (AGENCIES)
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