EC notice to DGP over ‘dummy’ posts

Aman Sood

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, October 25

The state Election Commission has issued a notice to the Director General of Police, Suresh Arora, to explain the transfer of policemen on “dummy” posts in violation of the EC guidelines.

The move followed The Tribune report on the matter. “We have asked the police to send a detailed report on the issue in two days,” said Additional Electoral Officer MS Narang. “The notice was sent after taking cognisance of the news report. The matter has been taken up at the highest level,” he stated.

It was reported that several SHO and DSP-level officers, considered close to local SAD and BJP leaders, had been asked to continue in their respective areas by creating new posts to “hoodwink” EC guidelines.

Sources said Chief Election Commissioner Naseem Zaidi, on the last day of his visit to Punjab, met the Chief Secretary and the DGP and raised the matter. “He was particularly harsh over the role played by halqa chiefs and their interference in day-to-day working of the police officials,” they said.

Meanwhile, the Congress has called for a thorough probe into the matter. The party accused the Badal government of making a mockery of the EC’s efforts to ensure fair and free elections in Punjab.

“The EC should order immediate cancellation of the government orders and penalise the concerned officers for such blatant violation of its directives,” said PPCC leaders Gurpreet Singh Kangar, Surinder Singla and Nathuram.

AAP leaders Sukhpal Khaira and Kanwar Sandhu have also accused the Akalis of using the police machinery “to deceive the EC”. “We have written to the EC for a thorough probe and an action against guilty officers who made such postings to please their political bosses,” they said.