Violence During Panchayat Polls To Be Dealt With Sternly, Says Odisha DGP After Meeting With SEC

Bhubaneswar: In a warning to miscreants disrupting the panchayat elections, Director General of Police (DGP) Sunil Kumar Bansal on Thursday said violence during the polling process will be handled with stern hands.

Speaking to the media after a meeting with State Election Commission, here, the DGP said any kind of violence during the elections will not be tolerated.

“Those involved in poll violence are being arrested. Anyone disrupting the voting process will not be spared,” he said.

Earlier, the SEC had convened a meeting with chief secretary, secretary of Home department and DGP to discuss the steps for peaceful election in rest four phases.

On Wednesday, State Election Commissioner Aditya Prasad Padhi had taken a serious note of the violent incidents during polling and directed the DGP to ensure maintain law and order in rest phases.

According to sources, following incidents of disturbances in polling process in several areas of the state on first day of polling, district collectors had proposed to the SEC to hold re-polling in 25 places. Political parties have also submitted memorandum citing violent interference during pre-poll campaign and polling time.

The violent incidents included snatching of ballot box, tearing of ballot papers, both capturing, and creating disturbance and ransacking of election booths. At one place, the miscreants had also attacked the media persons and damaged their equipment.

Also Read: Panchayat Elections: Odisha SEC Directs DGP To Ensure Peaceful Polling In Rest 4 Phases