'Poll squad' flees with Rs 1.94 lakh

KOZHIKODE: Nadakkavu police have registered a case and begun probe after a three-member gang allegedly fled with Rs 1.94 lakh by posing as officials of an election squad. According to the complaint filed by Chandran, 56, of Eranhikkal in the city, the incident occurred on Friday morning near his residence as he was on his way to Puthiyappa to hand over the money to a fish merchant.
In his complaint, Chandran has said that the trio ­ among whom one was in police uniform ­ stopped the vehicle and asked if he was carrying cash. They then collected the money and asked him to follow them to the office of the district police chief. One of them later informed Chandran that the money was unaccounted for and he could collect it from the election expenditure cell at the collectorate on producing documents.
Meanwhile district collector N Prasanth, who is also the district election officer, has cautioned political parties and members of the public against such fraudsters. He has instructed that the money should be handed over only if the executive magistrate of the official team presents his identity card. Vehicles of election squads would have boards displaying `election flying squad' or `statistics and surveillance squad' on them, the collector said. In case of suspicion, the election control room can be contacted at 0495-2374875.