People to face criminal prosecution on misuse of EPIC, ration cards

The Commission directs district magistrates to take foolproof measures to ensure that EPIC and ration cards are not misused, reports Anil Anand.

People caught misusing Electors Photo Identity Cards (EPIC) and ration cards in UP elections will face criminal prosecution. Election Commission on Wednesday directed the poll officials in UP to act sternly to check misuse of these identity documents to ensure free and fair elections in the state.

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Polling for the first phase of the seven-tier UP Assembly elections will be held on April 7. An EC spokesman said that the Commission has directed the district magistrates to take foolproof steps to ensure that EPIC and ration cards are not misused. “Anybody caught possessing other person’s EPIC or ration card should be criminally prosecuted..” the EC order said.

Viewing the possibility of voters’ intimidation as a priority area, the EC had ordered a detailed survey of all the 403 Assembly constituencies of the state to identify “vulnerable areas”. Special security arrangements have been made in there to thwart use of muscle or money power to coerce the voters into voting for a particular party or candidate. “This has been done to prevent any possibility of threats and intimidation of the voters by anti-social elements,” the spokesman said.