Stern action against those spreading misinformation on social media during polls, says Vizianagaram SP
Vizianagaram Superintendent of Police A.R. Damodar on Friday warned that stern action would be taken against anyone misusing social media to spread false information during the upcoming municipal, parishad and panchayat elections in the district. Urging residents to verify posts before forwarding them on WhatsApp and other platforms, he cautioned that unverified content could trigger tension in villages and other parts of Vizianagaram.
Call to verify information and avoid misleading posts
Speaking to The Hindu on October 16, 2026, Mr. Damodar appealed to social media users and influencers to act responsibly. He asked the public to cross-check the authenticity of posts before sharing them and urged influencers not to mislead people during the election period. The police, he said, would keep a close watch on platforms to curb misinformation and maintain peace.
‘Free and fair polls need public cooperation’
“Peaceful, free and fair elections are possible only with the cooperation of the people. The department would keenly observe the movements of troublemakers. The fine up to ₹3 lakh would be imposed on the persons if bind-over rules are violated. Nearly 20,000 persons were put under the bind-over category in the district,” Mr. Damodar said.
Heightened vigilance in sensitive areas
Outlining the security arrangements, the SP said flying squads and special police teams would patrol sensitive areas within the limits of the Vizianagaram Municipal Corporation, the Nellimarla Nagar Panchayat and 27 zilla parishad territorial constituencies. These teams will focus on seizing unaccounted cash and monitoring the law and order situation throughout the campaign and polling period.
Checks on money power and cash-carrying limits
Asserting that the police would not allow money-managed elections, Mr. Damodar said surveillance would extend to both physical movement of large sums and large-scale bank transactions. “The department would not allow money-managed elections. That is why we will observe large-scale bank transactions also apart from carrying huge amounts physically. As per rules, no one should carry more than ₹10,000 during the election period,” he said.
Action plan for festivals and polls
Mr. Damodar added that the department had prepared an action plan to manage the Vizianagaram Utsavalu and the Sirimanotsavam alongside the election schedule, which is slated for the last week of October. He said these arrangements were aimed at ensuring public safety, smooth conduct of events and an atmosphere conducive to free and fair voting.
Reiterating the appeal for cooperation from the public, the SP said the department would continue to monitor potential troublemakers and take necessary steps to protect the integrity of the electoral process across the district.
