Taking serious note of the post-poll violence in Andhra Pradesh, the Election Commission on Thursday ordered suspension of two SPs and 12 subordinate police officials in three districts and transfer of another SP and a district collector, for failing to control the violence.
In a meeting held at Nirvachan Sadan with Chief Secretary and DGP Andhra Pradesh, the Commission led by CEC Rajiv Kumar and ECs Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu conveyed its displeasure over the post poll violence in Andhra Pradesh.
The Commission ordered suspension of SPs of Palnadu and Ananthapuramu districts and initiation of departmental enquiry against them.
It also ordered transfer of District Collector of Palnadu and SP of Tirupati and initiation of departmental enquiry against them.
The Commission ordered suspension of 12 subordinate police officials in these three districts (Palnadu, Anathapuram and Tirupati) and initiation of departmental enquiry against them.
It directed that the government constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the matter and submit an action taken report to the Commission in two days in each of the cases.
“FIRs to be updated with additional appropriate IPC sections and other relevant statutory provisions,” the commission said.
The Commission, which took tough stand against post-poll violence in Andhra Pradesh, directed the CS and the DGP to take strict action against culprits.
Without mincing any words, the Commission directed CS and DGP to ensure that such violence is not repeated and all SPs to be tasked to take pre-emptive measures to avoid such a situation in future.
The Commission reviewed the cases at their level and directed CS and DGP for strict supervision, to ensure appropriate decision on timely filing of chargesheet against the culprits, as per law, preferably within the model code of conduct period.
During the briefing, CS and DGP shared their assessment of negligence and lack of supervision on the part of officials in violence hit districts.
They asked the Commission to retain 25 CRPF companies for 15 days after counting to control any possible violence after declaration of results.
The Commission decided to direct the Ministry of Home Affairs to retain the 25 CRPF companies in Andhra Pradesh for 15 days after counting, to control any violence after declaration of results.
It may be recalled that ECI has summoned Chief Secretary and DGP, Andhra Pradesh to New Delhi to personally explain reasons for failure of administration to contain post poll violence.
Several incidents of violence were reported in Ananthapuramu, Palnadu and Tirupati districts on the poll-day and post poll day.
Incidents were also reported before the poll involving assault, setting the property/office of the opposite party on fire, threatening, damaging of the campaign vehicles, stone pelting etc.
Most of these incidents happened in the districts of Annamaya, Chittoor and Palnadu and few incidents in Guntur, Anantapur and Nandyal etc
