Police in Ri-Bhoi seized over half a kilogramme of gold worth some Rs 30 lakh at a checkpoint on Saturday.
The seizure came a day after the recovery of unaccounted cash of over Rs 10 lakh in a village in East Jaintia Hills.
Police have stepped up checking operations in the state with the Model Code of Conduct in place for the upcoming February 27 Assembly elections.
According to the state’s Chief Electoral Officer, Frederick Roy Kharkongor, the checkpoint was set up at the Umsning junction. During the routine procedure, a grey Assam-registered Maruti Alto 800 (AS 01 DT 6749) was stopped and checked and five gold biscuits were recovered from the possession of one Sahidul Islam.
The recovered gold strips were seized on the spot along with the vehicle and the matter was informed to the District Election Officer for necessary action.
The total weight of the seized gold was 570g, which is worth Rs 30 lakh.
On completion of weight and measurement, the seized items were packed, sealed and videographed in the presence of the Assistant Returning Officer and Additional Superintendent of Police, Ri-Bhoi District and witnesses.
The gold biscuits were kept in the Umsning police station for safe custody for further necessary action by the office of District Election Officer.
On January 19, district authorities seized Rs 10.72 lakh in cash from three vehicles in Umkiang village under Sutnga-Saipung Assembly seat. No one was arrested so far in these cash seizures.
According to police, the cash was seized from three vehicles coming from neighbouring Assam as the occupants of the vehicles could not produce any valid document for carrying the money.
Sutnga-Saipung constituency is considered one of the ‘expenditure sensitive’ Assembly constituencies identified by the Election Commission.
The commission has identified at least 34 Assembly constituencies across the State as ‘expenditure sensitive’ meaning that the use of money is very high.
Elections to the 60-member Meghalaya Assembly will be held on February 27. Counting of votes will take place on March 2.
The gazette notification for the election will be issued on January 31.
