File FIR against Kishtwar police chief, directs poll official

In a significant development, a poll official in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district Sunday directed the local police to register an FIR against its district chief chief for creating misbehaving with him and thus hindering the poll process.

Additional District Magistrate, Kishtwar, Muhammad Hanief Malik, who is also the assistant returning officer (ARO) for poll duties, wrote to the station house officer (SHO) Kishtwar directing him to lodge an FIR against Superintendent of Police Sanjay Kotwal.

"You are hereby directed to lodge an FIR against Sanjay Kotwal, SP Kishtwar, as he has misbehaved and manhandled the undersigned while I was performing my election duties as ARO 51-Kishtwar.

"He also threatened the undersigned publicly in front of more than 200 people at helipad Kishtwar while I was receiving the polling staff and election material," wrote Malik, adding that Kotwal, throughout the election process, has been creating hindrances in the election process.

He also accused the police chief of misbehaving with him in a meeting earlier.

Kishtwar district is part of the Udhampur Lok Sabha seat which went to polls on April 17.