Five police officers suspended, many removed from duty in UP for ignoring EC guidelines
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Five police officers suspended, many removed from duty in UP for ignoring EC guidelines

At least five police officers were suspended and many others removed from polling duty in Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday for flouting Election Commission guidelines and preventing voters from casting their votes in the ongoing polls, officials said.

The election authority’s action came after complaints from opposition parties, mainly the Samajwadi Party, that people from a particular community were being prevented from voting.

SP president Akhilesh Yadav urged the EU to suspend all police officers who check voter cards and Aadhaar IDs on the basis of video evidence. Pursuant to the Commission’s directions, District Election Officers and Superintendents of Police, after verifying the complaints, have suspended the police personnel for their conduct.

EC officials said in Muzaffarnagar that two sub-inspectors have been suspended for non-compliance of EC guidelines for voter control. In view of complaints received regarding checking of identity cards of voters by police personnel in Moradabad, a thorough investigation was conducted, the officials said. The cases involved the villages of Bhikanpur Kulwara and Milak Siri.

In this regard, one sub-inspector, two head constables and two women constables have been removed from polling duty and sent to police lines. In another complaint regarding police personnel entering a polling booth, the investigation found that he had entered the booth to inquire about the smoothness of the election process.

But as this is against EC guidelines, the erring police officer has been suspended and departmental proceedings will be initiated, the selection panel said. Similar shutdowns were ordered in Sisamau assembly constituency in Kanpur district.

Taking cognizance of the complaints on social media by the Samajwadi Party that certain communities were prevented from voting during the polls, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar issued strict instructions to the Chief Electoral Officer of Uttar Pradesh and all district election and returning officers to ensure fair and smooth polling process.