COIMBATORE: The Coimbatore city police have registered two FIRs against DMK functionaries on charges of involving minor boys and girls in election campaigns in Coimbatore South assembly constituency, where former minister V Senthil Balaji is the party candidate.As political parties in the state have intensified their campaigns, they have been using social media extensively. Videos of minor boys and girls appealing to voters to cast their votes for Senthil Balaji in Coimbatore South constituency went viral in social media.The city police registered two FIRs against DMK functionaries, who are yet to be traced, under Section 171(1) (undue influence at an election) of the BNS Act. According to a senior police officer, all political parties and candidates must refrain from engaging children in any election-related activities. The officer said it should also be ensured that no provisions of the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986, were violated. “Political parties must not use children in any form of election campaign or rally, including the distribution of posters or pamphlets. Children should not be involved in shouting slogans, campaign rallies, or election meetings. Candidates and parties must also not use children for campaigning, canvassing, rallies, carrying them in their arms, taking them along in vehicles or making them part of any promotional activities,” the officer said.A cybercrime police officer said they had been receiving many requests to block social media content. He said parties were uploading videos of children supporting their respective parties, which is against the law. The officer added that if any party violated the model code of conduct, a case would be filed against it.
