Truant polling personnel to face prosecution

SHILLONG: Polling personnel in Tura Lok Sabha constituency who fail to report for their poll duties without a valid reason would face prosecution, said West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner and Returning Officer Pravin Bakshi on Sunday.
Bakshi said some polling personnel did not report for duty on Sunday under “flimsy excuses.”
Polling in Tura would be held on Wednesday.
Polling parties would have to reach their respective destinations by Monday or latest by Tuesday.
Exemptions could not be given for failure to report for election duty except under circumstances involving “major and unavoidable illness necessitating hospitalization,” the release said.
The failure to report for election duty would “attract penal sections of Representation of People Act necessitating issuance of warrants against the defaulters and prosecution under relevant sections of electoral laws.”
To overcome problems and inconveniences, which shall be there at the polling stations polling personnel should approach Nokmas, gaon buras (headmen), headmasters and teachers of schools where booths would be located, another release by Bakshi said.
Villages near polling stations might have to extend support to polling parties.
Several of the polling booths in the Garo Hills are in far-flung areas.
Areas under Tura constituency are also witnessing activities of a number of militant groups, with killings and kidnappings being the order of the day in the region.