SEC Orders Removal Of Three Police Officers From Election Duties
SEC orders removal of three police officers from election duties They have been accused of being high-handed, partisan, and negligent.
Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission (SEC) has ordered disciplinary action against three police officers – a circle inspector (CI) and two sub-inspectors (SIs) – over their conduct during the rural local body elections. In a letter to Palnadu district superintendent of police, State Election Commissioner Anil Chandra Punetha said SEC has taken a serious view of former minister Vidadala Rajani allegedly being pushed to the ground at her residence by Chilakaluripeta Rural sub-inspector L. Priyanka on October 23. The former minister had been under house arrest when Yedlapadu ZPTC nominee Pandula Bullabbayi attempted to meet her to collect the B-form required to file his nomination. Police stopped him at the gate. Rajani is said to have resisted this move when the sub-inspector pushed her to the ground. The SEC has ordered disciplinary action against Priyanka under relevant provisions of the Conduct Rules. He directed the SP to relieve her of election-related and regular duties pending further orders. The SP has been asked to submit a report confirming relieving her from duties by 7 pm on October 24 and report on the disciplinary action by November 5. Further, in separate letters to the Kurnool Range deputy inspector general of police and the Annamayya district SP, Punetha directed disciplinary action against circle inspector K. Dastagiri and sub-inspector P. Ramakrishna for reported negligence and partisan conduct while discharging election duties at the MPDO office in Molakalacheruvu mandal during the process of MPTC and ZPTC nominations. The SEC directed that both officers be relieved of election-related and regular duties, submit compliance of their removal by 7 pm on October 24, and report on disciplinary action taken by November 5.
