Kannur, April 20 (FN Bureau) District Collector and Election Officer Arun K VIjayan has suspended a Polling Officer and Booth Level Officer (BLO) on a complaint for impersonating a voter in Booth 70 of Kannur parliamentary constituency during the home voting process on Saturday.Both officials were suspended under sections 134 of the Representation of the People Act,1951 and 171(f) of the Indian Penal Code. Kannur Assembly Assistant returning officer filed a complaint in this regard at the Town Police Station.The District Collector has appointed Assistant Collector Anoop Garg and Deputy Collector (RR) R Sreelatha to collect the details within 24 hours related to the incident. He also sought recommendations of the Central Election Commission regarding the validity of the vote cast and further action.
On Friday, Left Democratic Front (LDF) Kannur constituency secretary N Chandran lodged a complaint before the District Election officer alleging that BLO, K Geetha, an Angnanwadi teacher misled the Polling officer for deliberately impersonating during the home voting process of K Kamalakshi (86) residing at BKP apartment at Keezhthali. The BLO who knew the voter details took the house of V Kamalakshi (83), residing at Krishna Kripa in Thazhe Chowa. Both reside in the same booth number 70. V Kamalakshi of 83 years does not enjoy right to home vote meant only for 85 plus category. On April 19, Kannapuram police registered a case against six persons including CPI(M) Kallyassery branch secretary and Booth Agent Ganeshan as first accused.
District Collector has also suspended five polling officials, including Polling officer Pournami V V, Assistant Polling officer T K Prajin, Micro Observer A A Sheela, Videographer Reju AMaljith and Special Police officer Lajeesh, for allegedly trying to vote for E Devi (92) of Parakkadavu through external interference during the voting process at booth number 164 under Kasaragod Parliamentary constituency. Following the complaint, the District Collector also reported to take both departmental action and police cases against those involved, citing their breach of section 171(C) of the IPC and the violation of section 128 (1) of representation of the people Act 1951.