Imphal, January 27: To check proxy voting and other electoral malpractices voters will have to first prove their identities before casting their votes and failure to do so will mean forfeiting the franchise to vote.

This code would be enforced in both hill and valley areas.

Disclosing this, Joint Electoral Officer Norbert Disinang said the voters have to first prove their identities before they cast their votes.

If the voters failed to produce the identity card issued by Election Commission of India then they would require producing any documents in support of their identification.

Mention may be made here that a few years back under the initiative of the then Chief Electoral Commission of India, TN Seshan, voter identity cards were prepared but underground organizations had collected the same and destroyed them in Manipur.

The Joint CEO said that other than voter identity card, voters can produce driving license, pension card, ration card and in case of students identity cards issued by their respective educational institutions.

A gazette notification to this effect would be notified soon, Disinang said.

Meanwhile police have swung into action and begun pulling down flags and posters of candidates put up in violation of election code of conduct.

Election posters and flags which adorned the roads of Imphal were pulled down by the police today.

Election Nodal Officer DIG HS Sandhu told the press that if the candidates continuously violate the code of conduct and put up posters and flags on the public property such as roads and public buildings then stern action would be initiated against the erring candidates.

The matter will be taken up with the ECI and their candidature may be cancelled under the Representatives Act, said Sandhu.

On the security measures being taken up, Sandhu said the Centre may no accede to the requests of the State Government to detail more security personnel so the administration has to make do with the available security.

In another development steps are being taken up to check sale of illicit liquor under the strict instructions from the DGP, said a source from home department.

In the meantime police had to rush in and open a few round in the air to avert possible bloody clash between elections workers of MNC candidate and former CM W Nipamacha and INC candidate S Achouba in Wangoi AC yesterday at about 8 pm.