Uttar Pradesh Bypolls: ECI Suspends 7 Cops, Know Why The Action Was Taken Amid The Burqa Voter Row

Lucknow: Amid the ongoing controversy over checking of voters’ identity, the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday asked authorities in Uttar Pradesh to ensure fair bypolls in the state. Based on the complaints by Samajwadi Party, the ECI suspended at least seven police personnel so far for violating voter guidelines, reports stated.

“No eligible voter should be prevented from voting. Any kind of biased attitude during voting will not be tolerated. On receiving a complaint, there will be an immediate investigation. If anyone is found guilty, strict action will be taken,”the ECI said in a statement.

Among the suspended officers, two each are from Kanpur and Muzaffarnagar districts; and three from Moradabad.

Bypolls are being held in the nine assembly seats of Ghaziabad, Katehari, Khair, Kundarki, Karhal, Majhawan, Meerapur, Phulpur and Sisamau.

Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar instructed the state’s Chief Electoral Officer and all District Election Officers and Returning Officers to ensure fair and smooth election process

The poll body reacted after Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav accused police officers of unlawfully checking voter cards and Aadhaar IDs. The SP chief had also urged the poll body to take action based on complaints on its official social media accounts about some communities being prevented from voting.

“We have lodged multiple complaints. It seems that the senses of the Election Commission have dulled. It can neither see nor hear despite so many complaints. The BJP wants to win these by-elections not by vote but by ‘khot‘. Fearing a defeat, the BJP is pressuring the administration to indulge in foul play,” the SP chief had stated on X.

Earlier in the day, Yadav had urged the Supreme Court and the poll body to take immediate cognisance of alleged voter suppression.

“All police officers who are checking voter cards and Aadhaar IDs should be immediately suspended on the basis of video evidence. Police have no right to check Aadhaar ID cards or identity cards,” had wrote on X.

Meanwhile, the BJP dismissed claims that people from some communities were being prevented from casting their ballots. The saffron party also urged the Election Commission to intensify checking of burqa-clad voters.

In a letter to the Uttar Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer, the state’s BJP unit alleged that in Meerapur, people coming from outside were using fake IDs to vote. The party alleged that such illegal voters were being made to stay in mosques, madrasas and lodges in Muzaffarnagar district.

The party also claimed that women wearing burqas were not being checked. BJP alleged that taking advantage of the burqua, men disguised themselves to cast votes. Muzaffarnagar SSP Abhishek Singh, however, said free and fair polling was taking place.