Election Commission suspended ASP and SHO
– Photo: Social Media
Expansion
After the death of a soldier posted outside the strong room in Bhojpur, Bihar, the Election Commission had transferred the DM and SP on Tuesday. Now the Commission has suspended the ASP and SHO. In the suicide case, information has also been received that the security personnel was not given leave, due to which he committed suicide. The Election Commission has also raised questions on the security of EVMs. The Commission has directed the Bihar government to follow the SOP. The Commission has taken this action alleging gross negligence in election duty.
According to the information, constable Hemant Kumar, who was engaged in the security of EVM strong room of Nawada police station of Bhojpur district, committed suicide on March 30. Its complaint reached the commission. After which the Commission ordered to suspend SHO Rakesh Kumar Singh of Nawada police station of Bhojpur and Bhojpur ASP Parichay Kumar, who were doing the respective supervision. The Commission has admitted that the SOP of EVM strong room and security has been violated. There has been a lack of supervision in the approval of leave of security personnel.
The Commission has further said that a charge sheet will be issued immediately with heavy penalty for this. There is no option left for this. The Commission further wrote that the security of FLC OK machines as prescribed in Para 2.12 of Subject-2 of the EVM Manual was not fulfilled. FLC has been violated. It has been said in the letter that after the first level investigation in Bhojpur, extensive arrangements should have been made for 24-hour security of the FLC strong room containing EVMs. At least one section of the State Armed Police should be deployed for its security.
Three security guards were deputed in November 2023 at the VVPAT (EVM) warehouse located at Krishi Bhawan in Nawada police station area. A guard had gone on leave. On March 30, another guard had gone to the market to bring vegetables. Meanwhile, the third guard Hemant Kumar committed suicide by shooting himself with an INSAS rifle. The Commission believes that when a guard was on leave, someone else should have been immediately deputed, which did not happen.