6 October 2011 09:05 am
The police have arrested 194 individuals for violating election laws during the month long campaigning to 23 local government bodies and so far 145 incidents had been reported to the Police Elections Desk.
Most of the incidents were reported where supporters of major political parties engage in removing or tearing down cut outs, banners and other election propaganda material, the Police Elections Desk said.
According to the Police Elections Desk, 45 vehicles that were being used to carry out election campaigning in an unlawful manner have also been taken into custody.
The police said it will deploy a large number of police in all areas where the local government election is to be held on Saturday to elect members for 23 local government bodies.
Most of the incidents have been settled as most of the organizers in different electorates have been advised to prevent such incidents in their electorates.
“We have already commenced removing posters, banners and other propaganda materials in accordance with the elections law,” a senior police officer said.
He added that several policemen and labourers have been recruited for the purpose and the police are expected to finish the task as soon as possible.
When asked about the posters that have been pasted everyday in large numbers around the city he said that the police are using its maximum effort to remove them.
The labor force is used to balance if there is any shortage of policemen deployed to the purpose of removing elections propaganda materials. (Supun Dias)