Ferozepur DEO steps up vigilance, directs agencies to gear up for 2027 Assembly polls
Ferozepur, November 4, 2026: District Election Officer-cum-Deputy Commissioner Deepashikha Sharma has directed enforcement agencies to step up vigilance, strengthen inter-departmental coordination and prepare action plans well in advance to ensure free, fair and peaceful conduct of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections.
Chairing a review meeting with officials of Central and state government departments and enforcement agencies at the District Administrative Complex, Sharma stressed the need to identify sensitive areas, plug security gaps and tighten monitoring to prevent electoral malpractices.
Taking stock of feedback from the 2017 and 2022 Assembly elections and the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, she asked officials to draw lessons from previous elections and strengthen enforcement measures.
The meeting focused on profiling sensitive areas and curbing the distribution of cash, liquor, narcotics, gifts and other freebies to influence voters. Sharma directed the BSF, police and other security agencies to intensify coordination, tighten checks along the international border and inter-district routes, and prevent the illegal movement of arms and other prohibited items.
She also called for stronger Flying Squads and Static Surveillance Teams, with the support of the Income Tax Department and Lead District Manager, to track suspicious cash movements, hawala transactions and unaccounted money.
The Narcotics Control Bureau and Excise Department were directed to activate their intelligence networks and crack down on illicit liquor manufacturing units, illegal storage facilities and drug supply chains.
The DEO further asked CGST, State GST and Transport Department officials to monitor suspicious commercial consignments, subsidised goods and gift items that could be used to influence voters.
She directed all departments to maintain proper legal records, videograph seizures, ensure transparent reporting and immediately bring such cases to her notice.
Calling for proactive enforcement, Sharma instructed every department to identify high-risk and expenditure-sensitive areas, draw up dedicated enforcement strategies and submit departmental action plans ahead of the elections.
Additional District Election Officer Dr Amandeep Kaur, SP Manjit Singh, Election Tehsildar Sukhdev Singh, LDM Upmanyu Sood, DR Cooperative Societies Sukhjit Singh, Income Tax officials Bharat Bhushan and Sukhdeep Kumar, Placement Officer Gurjant Singh, along with officials of the BSF, Railway Protection Force, Transport, Finance and other departments, attended the meeting.