BATHINDA: With the issuance of notification for panchayat elections, political activity has begun on a feverish note in rural areas of the state. Elections to over 13,000 village panchayats in Punjab are to be held on December 30 and for it process of filing nomination papers started on Saturday that will continue till December 19. Though the elections are mainly held without party symbols, this time the contest is expected to be between the ruling Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).The civil administration and police have made elaborate arrangements for holding these elections in a peaceful manner that are considered as stepping stone towards political career. Sources said as there was a history of liquor and poppy used to lure voters in panchayat elections, the police in Bathinda and Mansa areas is concerned for checking smuggling of country-made liquor from neighbouring Haryana In the last many months smuggling of liquor is going on unabated from Haryana due to difference in prices. According to police sources, special nakas would be laid in areas sharing borders with Haryana to check liquor smuggling and likewise police will keep vigil at the borders to Rajasthan over chances of smuggling of poppy husk.Former minister and SAD farmer wing president Sikandar Singh Maluka said his part would support its candidates with full might. “Though we suspect high-handedness by the ruling party, the Akali Dal will fight out any such efforts.”Congress minister Gurpreet Singh Kangar said. “We believe in free and fair elections and the ruling party will make it sure that elections are held in a transparent manner.”Mansa senior superintendent of police (SSP) Mandhir Singh said police was fully geared up to ensure free and fair polls and the department officials would keep tight vigil to maintain law and order situation and to stop smuggling of liquor, if any.Box: Seizure of smuggled liquor on the riseThe recovery of liquor smuggled into the state from Haryana has started with sounding of the poll bugle. The Dabwali police on Friday night arrested Bathinda villager Ballard Singh with 414 cases of country-made liquor that he was supplying from Dabwali to Bathinda. Dabwali deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Kishori Lal said keeping in view of the panchayat polls, a naka was put in place on Punjab-Haryana border when Baljar Singh was arrested with 414 vases of liquor from his tractor trolley.Meanwhile Talwandi Sabo police recovered 50 cases of liquor that was smuggled from Haryana from a car near Lehri village in Bathinda district . The car occupants, however, managed to flee from the spot. The police also recovered 20 cases of liquor from Ramsarra village in another car and arrested two persons of Malkana village in Bathinda.

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