People pose after getting their face painted to encourage voting ahead of the sixth phase of general election, in Mumbai yesterday.

 

Agencies/New Delhi

 

Huge amounts of liquor, drugs and cash meant to bribe voters have been seized during the ongoing election in India, officials said yesterday.

Election Commission spokesman Rajesh Malhotra said Rs2.4bn ($39mn), more than 13.2mn litres of alcohol and 104kg of heroin were seized in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka since early March.

The commission says it has set up a team of tax, revenue, and intelligence officials to crack down on vote buying.

The cash seized so far is more than the Rs1.9bn confiscated during the 2009 election.

Candidates and party workers are being monitored for attempts to transport large amounts of cash in cars, private planes, choppers and even ambulances.

The monitoring mechanism includes flying squads, quick response teams and surveillance teams headed by executive magistrates.

Civil society groups, including the Association of Democratic Reforms, have voiced concern about rampant bribing of poor for their votes.

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