ECI SUSPENDS BHOJPUR DSP AND THE SHO NAWADA PS

Ara (RNI) The Election Commission of India (ECI) seems to be in dire straits. After the suicide of a constable deputed in the security of the warehouse where VVPAT (EVM) were kept on the campus of Krishi Bhawan under Nawada police station in Bhojpur district on March h30, 2024, the ECI took strong note on it and removed the Bhojpur District Magistrate Raj Kumar and the Superintendent of Police Pramod Kumar Yadav with immediate effect on April 2, 2024 and now on April 3, 2024, suspended the DSP Parichay Kumar and the Station House Officer, Nawada police station Rakesh Kumar Singh. In this case it has come to light that the constable was not given leave and hence he committed suicide. The ECI also raised questions on the security of the EVMs. The ECI directed the Bihar government to follow the SOP and action has been taken alleging gross negligence in election duty.

Constable Hemand Kumar who was engaged in the security of the EVM strong room on the campus of the Krishi Bhawan under Nawada police station had committed suicide on March 30, 2024 with the service INSAS rifle. His complaint reached the Election Commission after which the ECI ordered suspension of the DSP Parichay Kumar and the SHO Nawada police station Rakesh Kumar Singh with immediate effect. They were the supervisors of the warehouse.

The ECI admitted that the SOP of the EVM strong room and security has been violated and there has been a lack of expertise in touch clearance of the security personnel. The ECI further said that a charge sheet will be issued immediately with heavy punishment for this as there is no option left for this.

The ECI further wrote that the security of the security of the FLC OK machine was not fulfilled as prescribed in subject Para 2.12 of the EVM manual. FLC has been violated. It was said in the letter that after the first level investigation in Bhojpur district, comprehensive security arrangements of the FLC strong room containing EVMs should have been made for 24 hours and directed to deploy a section of the State Armed Police for the security of the EVMs.

The ECI said that three security guards were deputed un the VVPAT (EVM) warehouse located at Krishi Bhawan under Nawada police station area in November 2023. One guard had gone on leave and on March 30, 2024, the second guard had gone to the market to bring vegetables. Meanwhile, the third guard Hemant Kumar shot him with his INSAS rifle and committed suicide inside the warehouse. The ECI believes that when a guard went on leave, someone else should have been deputed immediately which was not done.