Coimbatore: Election flying squads sans videographers, flout law

Coimbatore: The election flying squads here are yet to be equipped with video cameras, raising concerns over whether officials are complying with the Election Commission (EC)’s rules as vehicle checks are not being video-graphed now as they should be.

In Coimbatore district, totally 60 flying squads have been constituted for 10 constituencies to videograph all election rules violations. The squads have three to four armed police and one videographer and are lead by revenue officials. Each squad with one vehicle is to be equipped with a mobile phone and a video camera to enable the teams video-graph election rules violations, to serve as evidence later.

Though EC has given permission to hire 90 videographers in the district, a tender floated by the district administration recently could not be awarded to the bidders, sources said. Hence, so far, no videographer is accompanying the flying squads in the district.

“The flying squads are conducting frequent checking in the city and seizing huge amounts above the Rs 50, 000. According to the EC rules, a videographer to record the violations must company each squad. They are involved in cash seizures from the public and unless videographed, claims by affected parties may be more than the amount seized leading to new problems,” said revenue officials to explain why each squad should be accompanied by a videographer.  

When contacted, Coimbatore election division tahsildar Mr Murali, said, “We have floated a tender and yet to issue work orders to the bidders. The awarding of tender was delayed due technical issues. Now, the police videographers are accompanying the flying squads.”