EC orders suspension of DM, SP, SDM, CO over poll duties

The Uttar Pradesh Election Commission tonight ordered an immediate suspension of District Magistrate, SP, SDM and Circle Officer of Pratapgarh district on the charges of dereliction of duty during the Panchayat polls, official said.
In a letter to state Chief Secretary, the state election commission said that they found them guilty of failing to conduct the polls in a fair manner, and recommended disciplinary action against them, officials said.
A similar action has also been recommended against Kunda additional DM AK Srivastava and police Circle Officer Kavindra Narayan Mishra.
"The commission has decided to suspend DM Amrit Tripathi, SP Sunil Kumar Saxena, SDM AK Srivastava and CO Kunda Kavindra Narain Saxena," an official spokesman said here.

The fourth phase of polling for the Uttar Pradesh gram panchayat polls today recorded a voter turnout of around 50 per cent amid stray incidents of violence.
"Barring few incidents the polling was by and large peaceful in 66 districts. Till now we have report of 50 per cent polling, but it will be around 71 per cent," State Election Commissioner S K Agarwal had said.
He had said that the three incidents occurred in Pratapgarh district and firing took place in one area where two persons, including a policeman, were injured.