Odisha Polls: 2 Police Officials Transferred Out Of Athgarh Constituency For Flouting Model Code

Bhubaneswar: Odisha’s chief electoral officer (CEO) has ordered transfer of IIC and a sub-inspector of Choudwar police station within 24 hours for violation of service rules related to elections.

Additional chief electoral officer N Thirumala Nayak, in an official letter to Commissioner, Bhubaneswar-Cuttack and Cuttack DCP on Friday, ordered to transfer IIC Biswaranjan Sahu and sub-inspector Saraswati Swati out of the constituency. The two police officers have also been told to submit the compliance letter of the order within 24 hours.

The CEO’s order came in the wake of complaint filed by BJP leaders against the IIC and the sub-inspector that they had addressed an election meeting organised by BJD in Athgarh Assembly constituency in Cuttack district recently.

Nayak also expressed his dissatisfaction on the report submitted by Cuttack DCP after investigation into the incident. In his probe report, the DCP said it was not a political meeting that was attended by the two police officials but a religious congregation.

But the CEO stated that no police official is allowed to attend any meeting under the banner of a political party as it violated the model code of conduct. Since the IIC and the SI had violated the norm, they have been transferred out of the constituency.