Satkhira policemen in hot water after EC censure over UP polls failure

An upset Election Commission (EC) has warned six police officials of Satkhira district, including the SP, for their failure to stop anomalies in the recent Union Parishad (UP) elections.

Moinul Hoque Chowdhurybdnews24.com
Published : 30 March 2016, 04:37 PM
Updated : 30 March 2016, 04:46 PM

Unhappy with their explanation, the EC has asked them to take action against those responsible for the irregularities within two weeks and get back to it.
 
It has also asked the police officials to arrest the perpetrators, start a case against them, and submit the chargesheet as soon as possible.
 
Failure to do so will lead to cases against the police officials, the EC has warned.
 
This is the first time the Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad-led commission has sought explanation from police for failing to take action despite its directives.
 
The police officials had either ‘remained silent’ or failed to give ‘good answers’ while facing a barrage of questions during the hearing at the commission office in Dhaka on Wednesday, officials said.
 
Satkhira SP Chowdhury Manjurul Kabir and OCs of five police stations – Mostafizur Rahman, Enamul Haque, Sheikh Masud Karim, Emdadul Haque Sheikh and Tariqul Islam – answered to the CEC and election commissioners for failing to prevent the irregularities at 14 centres in the district’s five Upazilas.
 
Election Commissioner Md Shah Nawaz said, “We heard what they had to say and expressed both our approval and displeasure over their actions.
 
“We pointed out their mistakes which they agreed on as well. They have also promised to take measures over some matters.”
 
The police officials declined to share any details of the hearing with the media.
 
The commission had barred journalists’ entry to the EC office section where the conference room is situated ahead of the hearing which started at 11am.
 
After it ended around 2pm, SP Kabir told reporters, “I have no comment.”

The five OCs left through the backdoor to avoid questions from the gathered journalists.

A deputy secretary, asking not to be named, said Commissioner Abdul Mobarak had mentioned the legal issues and pointed out the weaknesses in the police officials’ statements at the beginning of the three-hour-long hearing.
 
The police officials appeared to be in a tight spot in the face of the EC’s questions.
 
According to that secretary, CEC Ahmad told them, “We don’t want to hear any new excuses. There is still time. Arrest the perpetrators, file cases and take all other necessary actions. Or else, you yourselves will face cases.”
 
The six officers at the time requested the commissioners to seek explanations from the presiding officers over the irregularities.
 
Voting was held at 712 UPs on Mar 22 in the first of the six-phase union council election.
 
On the night before, irregularities took place at 14 centres of Tala, Sadar, Shyamnagar, Kolaroa and Debhata Upazilas in Satkhira.
 
On the morning of Mar 22, the EC suspended polling at those centres over allegations that pre-sealed ballot papers were stuffed into the ballot boxes.
 
The EC had suspended voting in 65 centres in 13 districts, but not in any UP entirely.
 
Later, it summoned the Satkhira police officials to explain their point of view over the violations.