NEW DELHI: Conveying its “displeasure” over the post poll violence in Andhra Pradesh, the EC has directed the home ministry to retain 25 companies of paramilitary in the state for 15 days after counting of votes. It has also ordered transfer, suspension and initiation of departmental enquiry against officials, including one district collector and three superintendents of police.
The EC had summoned the state’s chief secretary and director general of police on Thursday to seek their explanation in failure to prevent violence in the state after voting was conducted. EC has directed Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the matter and submit an action taken report to it in two days in each of the cases. “FIRs to be updated with additional appropriate IPC sections and other relevant statutory provisions,” it instructed. During the briefing, CS and DGP shared their assessment of negligence and lack of supervision on the part of officials in violence-hit districts.
In a statement, the EC said it approved transfer of Palnadu district collector and initiation of departmental inquiry against him. It also approved suspension of SPs of Palnadu and Ananthapuramu districts, and transfer of Tirupati SP. A departmental inquiry will be conducted against all the three district police chiefs.
In addition, the poll panel has also approved suspension of 12 subordinate police officials in these three districts and initiation of departmental inquiry.
“State has requested to retain 25 Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) companies for 15 days after counting to control any possible violence after declaration of results. ,” the poll body said.