SEC chief gets threat letters,probe ordered

Asked about additional security for her,he said,“Security is already tight. We are inquiring into the matter.”

State Panchayat Minister Subrata Mukherjee said he had heard about the matter. “The Home Department is looking into the matter and hopefully offenders would be booked soon.”

Police Commissioner Surajit Kar Purakayastha said he had no idea of the incident. “I have no information about it,” he told The Sunday Express.

Political leaders said the threat letters pose a big question on the law and order situation. “If the Election Commissioner herself is getting such threat letters,we can imagine what the law and order situation would be during the election,” said Pradeep Bhattacharya,president,West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee.

CPM leader Rabin Deb accused the TMC for this act and said it was a threat to the common people. “It (the letter) has been sent to the Election Commissioner but it is not meant for her. It is meant for the common people of the state,trying to drive home the message that if they can threaten the EC,imagine what they can do to people who would speak against the TMC,” he said.

Meera meets election observers,explains duties

State Election Commissioner Meera Pandey today instructed poll observers (appointed to oversee the panchayat elections) to reach the block concerned by May 29. Holding a meeting at Sisir Mancha auditorium,Pandey also instructed the 155 observers to look into the security arrangements of their blocks.

The state government had recommended to the state election commission to hold the elections on July 2,6 and 9.

The commission is likely to issue a notification on Monday for holding the polls in the first phase on July 2 for the nine districts. The state election commission had requested 210 observers to attend the meeting after their names were recommended by the state government in the High Court’s May 14 order. Out of them,155 attended the meeting.

Pandey told the observers that any non-compliance with the security arrangement as ordered by the high court should be reported to the commission.