REPORT OF SPECIAL GENERAL OBSERVER, ASSAM RECEIVED; ARMED ESCORT OFFICER ALSO SUSPENDED.

No. ECI/PN/42/2021                                                    

Dated:2^nd April  2021

PRESS NOTE

REPORT OF SPECIAL GENERAL OBSERVER, ASSAM RECEIVED;

ARMED ESCORT OFFICER ALSO SUSPENDED.

The report of Special General Observer, Assam has been received in the Commission wrt. the incident involving Polling Party of Polling Station 149- Indira M. V. School, Ratabari(SC) LAC utilizing a private vehicle for transportation of EVM.

The Special Observer has carefully taken the inputs given bythe CEO, DC as well as the General Observer & the Police Observer of the said LAC and has recommended as follows:

a) Action be taken against armed escort officer for leaving behind the stranded polling party and not ensuring their safe arrival at destination

b) There does not seem to be any grounds for change of RO as this appears to be an isolated incident, due to the total negligence and foolishness of the Presiding Officer and his team. 

c) There is otherwise no deliberate or malafide intention in the incident aimed to disrupt the polling process

d) To ensure credibility and fairness, it is appropriate to order repoll in PS Number 149 Indira MV School of LAC 1 Ratabari.

Consequent to Commission’s decisionPresiding Officer: Sahab Uddin Talukdar;First Polling Officer: SouravAcharjee; Second Polling Officer: Abdul MumitChoudhary;Third Polling officer: Sahab Uddin Tapadar; had already been placed under suspension since forenoon today.

Thereafter, with the receipt of the said report from the Special General Observer, Armed Escort Officer Mr. LuhitGohain, Sub-Inspector of Police ( Armed Branch) of 3^rd Assam Police Battalion, Titabor has also been suspended. The Commission has directed a repoll at Polling Station 149- Indira M. V. School of Ratabari(SC) LAC.