Shillong, May 2: The election department has deployed all-female flying squads to check home-brewed liquor by women in Sohiong.
The adjourned election for Sohiong is scheduled on May 10.
Chief Electoral Officer Frederick Kharkongor said as Sohiong is traditionally known for home-brewed liquor especially made by women, the election department wants to ensure that the local liquor should not be used as an inducement to woo voters.
Over 17,000 female voters outnumber men in Sohiong.
“Hence we have deployed all women flying squads to detect and prevent home-brewed liquor in the constituency”, he said.
Liquor seizure was significant in Meghalaya ahead of the Assembly polls.
The East Khasi Hills Election Officer who is also the Deputy Commissioner has declared May 8, 9 and 10 as ‘Dry Days’ and has warned ‘that no spirituous, fermented, intoxicating liquor or other substances of a like nature shall be sold, given or distributed at a hotel, eating house, tavern, shop or any other place, public or private and within a polling area’.
The order is applicable in the entire East Khasi Hills district though the election is only in Sohiong.
The election officer also declared May 13, the day of counting of votes as ‘Dry Day’.
Counting in state library premises
Kharkongor said as there is only single constituency, counting of votes will be held at the state central premises instead of Polo Ground.
