Odisha Elections 2024: CEO Orders Arrest Of 2 Booth Presiding Officers For Dereliction Of Duty

Bhubaneswar: Odisha’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Nikunja Bihari Dhal on Monday ordered the suspension of presiding officers of three polling booths in Ganjam and arrest of two of them for serious dereliction of duty in the conduct of election.

Sources said that the CEO has directed Ganjam district Collector Dibya Jyoti Parida to place presiding officers of three booths under suspension. He further directed that two of these officers be arrested for serious dereliction of duty during the first phase of Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in the state.

“We have ordered Ganjam Collector to suspend three presiding officers and also arrest two of them,” Dhal told reporters in Bhubaneswar.

He said those who committed serious dereliction of duty, are presiding officers of Chhatrapur booth No. 27 and Chhatrapur polling station No.163. They will be suspended and also arrested.

This apart, it has been ordered to suspend the presiding officer of Gopalpur booth No. 193.

Earlier in the day, the CEO had ordered for suspension of two polling officials, including a presiding officer of a booth.

Notably, the first phase polling was held in four Parliamentary seats of Berhampur, Koraput, Nabarangpur and Kalahandi and 28 Assembly segments under these Lok Sabha constituencies amid tight security on Monday.