Action to be taken against govt officials found campaigning

Palamau district administration today warned of stringent action against any government official or employees found taking part in campaigning in favour of their relatives contesting the ensuing Panchayat elections.
"We have received complaints that officials of the rank of Circle Officer, Junior Engineer and Block Welfare Officer are campaigning in favor of their relatives in the fray," said the Deputy Commissioner K Srinivasan.
Srinivasan said stringent actions would be initiated against any government official or employee, if found guilty on this count.
He instructed the Sub-divisional Officer/Circle Officer/Block Development Officers to keep a vigil on such employees and officials.
The better halves of some of the officials were also in the fray, Srinivasan said referring the complaints received from Tarhasi, Panki and Lesligunj of the district.

Srinivasan's warning came after a para-teacher Rajeshwar Ravidas was shot dead by unidentified miscreants in Imaliyatand village under Naudiha police station in Palamau district late last night.

According to preliminary reports, police said Ravidas was campaigning for his sister-in-law, who was contesting the Panchayat polls from the village and was shot dead allegedly by the rivals.
Investigation was on, they said.
Meanwhile, the district administration has made preparations to conduct a free and fair first phase of the four-phase polls starting November 22.
Srinivasan said adequate security arrangements including deployment of para-military forces would be done to ensure free and fair elections.