‘Farooq shifted men for poll mileage’

BJP’s legal cell in J-K has accused the state of violating the election code of conduct. The allegation by unit president Ramesh Arora comes in the wake of tranfers of 23 Assistant Executive Engineers of Power Development Department — reportedly in a back-dated order — after the announcement of the election schedule for the state.

Arora alleged that these 23 AEEs were shifted to their desired places in an order issued on August 8, six days after the declaration of the poll schedule. However, the order is dated August 2 — the day CEC J.M. Lyngdoh announced the election schedule.

The transferred AEEs kept on reporting to their earlier places till August 8, he said adding the same might be established after checking the attendance registers.

PDD Principal Secretary B.R. Kundal denied that the order was back-dated. He said the decision on the transfers was taken on August 1 and he signed it the next day.