EC transfers Patiala IGP, to replace 2 TN observers

The Election Commission today decided to replace two election observers posted at Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu after it received complaints that...

The Election Commission today decided to replace two election observers posted at Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu after it received complaints that they were making ‘‘outrageous demands’’ from the district administration.

Though EC spokesperson A.N. Jha refused to elaborate what the ‘‘outrageous demands’’ were, he said: ‘‘The observers will be called back as their behaviour was not found proper’’.

The Commission also ordered the immediate transfer of the Inspector General of Police of Patiala as it found that he was ‘‘not able to discharge his duties in a free and fair manner’’. The EC asked the Punjab government to shift Rajinder Singh to duties not related to elections.

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Jha also said that one of the Election Commissioners would be visiting Hardwar to review the situation there. The town witnessed clashes after a local businessman’s wife was allegedly teased by some police personnel. One person died and several were injured in the violence.

The EC is also looking into a complaint lodged by the BJP against the SP for bringing out ads in some local Urdu newspapers in Uttar Pradesh where Mulayam Singh Yadav was likened to Prophet Mohammad’s grandson.

‘‘The Commission has asked for the true copies of the ads and will take appropriate action,’’ Jha said.

Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree said the designation gives law enforcement “enhanced powers to combat a group that has instilled fear through violence and intimidation”.

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