Karwar: State Excise Vigilance team Joint Commissioner Somashekharappa has hinted that there are every chance of liquor being ferried into the State from the neighbouring Goa during election time.

The static and flying squads should be on their toes to contain election malpractices and the excise and police deployed at check-posts should seal the border check-posts prohibiting the supply of Goan liquor.

He noted this while speaking at a joint meeting of officials of Goa and Karnataka, in Karwar, on Thursday.

Strict directives:

Election Commission of India has issued stict directives to ensure free and fair polling and the officials have to make collective effort to ensure this. The officials should also seal the sea route to check illegal transportation of liquor and other freebies.

He said, more staff should be deployed at border check-posts and keep a strict vigil on movement of vehicles.

The officials in Goa should check the liquor manufacturing units in their State and see that additional liquor is not produced.

The permit given to carry two litre liquor into State, should be banned temporarily, he directed.

He further said that sale of liquor during elections is prohibited in State. All the bars and wine shops located within five km radius from State borders should remain closed on the polling and result day.

He asked the officials to strike co-ordination and see that the model code of conduct directed by the ECI is implemented effectively.

South Goa excise assistant commissioner Satyavan, inspectors Pramod, Prashanth, Vibhuti Shetty, Belagavi Division Joint Commissioner Y Manjunath, and others were present.