A Station House Officer (SHO) of Dharamkot was suspended today for dereliction in duty during counting of votes at Jalalabad East village polling station in panchayat polls.
Moga SSP Surjit Singh Grewal took note of the SHO's "failure" and ordered a departmental inquiry in the incident.
SHO Gopal Chand was specially deputed by the SSP to remain present during counting of votes at Jalalabad East village as there was some apprehension of violence.
As the counting of votes was on, about two dozen persons entered the counting station and snatched three ballot boxes and thrashed the on-duty officer.
Though police recovered two boxes, they could not trace the third one.
It was found in the inquiry that the SHO was not present at the counting centre when the ballot boxes were snatched and more so, left the centre without informing his seniors, the SHO said.
