In light of the upcoming elections to the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council, various restrictions have been put in place by the District Magistrate of East Khasi Hills to ensure a fair election free from undue influence.
In a series of orders passed today, the District Magistrate, RM Kurbah, placed restrictions on the carrying of cash, the holding of arms and agitational programmes until the election is held next month.
She prohibited any person or group of persons from carrying money above Rs 50,000 in cash in the district.
Arms licence holders were directed to deposit their arms at the nearest police station/outpost/beathouse in order to ensure a peaceful election.
Kurbah also said that information has been received that some organisations in the district are planning to hold agitational programmes, like hunger strikes, processions, rallies, etc and that such events are “likely to create law and order problems, breach of peace and tranquility affecting the smooth conduct” of the KHADC election “if not prohibited immediately”.
She therefore banned any sort of agitational programme “in any form” by an individual or organisation in East Khasi Hills until further notice.
Kurbah also restricted contesting candidates, their agents or political parties from slogan writing on walls, pasting of political posters, cutouts, hoardings, etc on any public property and will only be allowed on private property after securing written permission from the property owners and after approval of the DM. No banners are allowed on roads/thoroughfares.
No election meetings can be held without first taking permission from the office of the DM and then from the relevant local headman. Public address systems can be used only between 5am and 10pm and those used without permission are liable to be seized by the authorities. No rallies and processions will be allowed without the permission from the DM.
