The Election Commission (EC) has ordered some police officials to launch cases against the people involved in irregularities during the first phase of UP elections and to arrest them within in 15 days.
Besides, the EC warned them of lodging cases against the officials if they fail to perform the duties as per the order, confirms an official of the commission who requested not to be named.
The commission yesterday made the order in a meeting in which six police officials were summoned in its Secretariat to explain their roles during the past polls.
The six officials are Satkhira Superintendent of Police Chowdhury Monjurul Kabir, Officer-in-Charges (OC) of Satkhira Sadar, Tala, Kolaroa, Syamnagar and Debhata police stations.
The EC received accusations of vote rigging and irregularities in those upazilas in the first phase of UP elections and the EC compelled to halt voting in 14 centres there.
In the hearing, the officials showed cause that they had taken actions including blank fires to stop the irregularities.
After the three-hour hearing, when the journalists wanted to get opinion from Satkhira SP, he replied: “I have no comments.”
EC Commissioner M Shahnewaz said: “We have summoned those six police officials to know about their statement regarding the irregularities happened in Satkhira. They have realised their mistakes and we have also addressed them the abnormalities. They gave commitment of checking the repeat of the irregularities in the future.”
“And the SP is ordered to submit strict charge sheet against the accused also,” M Shahnewaz also said.
Second Phase UP election in 643 unions today
The second phase of election in 643 Union Parishads is going to be held today.
According to the electoral code, canvass has already stopped from the first hour of March 29. No candidates is allowed to campaign after that time.
In the polls, 3,114 chairman aspirants will compete. Of them, 1,559 are political candidates and 1,555 are independent. Some 112,334 voters will exercise their votes in 6,205 polling centres.
A total of 6,799 member aspirants (reserved seats for women) and 23,377 general member aspirants are going to participate in the race.
M Shahnewaz said: “To ensure a free and fair manner in today’s polls the EC will stay with law enforcers in every steps to stop irregularities.”
