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Punjab by-election: Just three days before voting in the Tarn Taran assembly by-election in Punjab, the Election Commission on Saturday suspended the district’s Senior Superintendent of Police Ravjot Kaur Grewal.
Punjab by-election: Just three days before voting in the Tarn Taran assembly by-election in Punjab, the Election Commission on Saturday suspended the district’s Senior Superintendent of Police Ravjot Kaur Grewal. He was posted as SSP of Tarn Taran in September. An official statement said that Amritsar Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar has been given the additional charge of SSP, Tarn Taran with immediate effect. Although no reason has been given for Grewal’s suspension, the action against the SSP comes after Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal lodged a complaint with the Chief Electoral Officer. Badal had accused him of using the police to file false FIRs against his party leaders and workers to prevent them from campaigning for the November 11 by-election.
Shiromani Akali Dal had complained
Last month, in his letter to the Chief Electoral Officer of Punjab, Badal had alleged that the ruling Aam Aadmi Party was misusing the local police for its political gains. Badal had alleged that the SSP was filing false cases against Akali sarpanches and workers to intimidate them and prevent them from participating in election activities. SAD had claimed that a politically motivated FIR has been registered against its leaders and workers. The party had alleged that the government machinery was being misused against SAD candidate Sukhwinder Kaur Randhawa, her family members and supporters. The opposition party had also staged a protest against the police action against its workers and leaders. Again this month, SAD filed another complaint with the Election Commission, alleging that Kanchanpreet Kaur, daughter of SAD candidate Randhawa, was being chased by two plainclothes police officers, who were later caught.
Voting will be held on November 11
SAD had said that such conduct not only undermines the fairness of the electoral process, but is also a serious violation of the model code of conduct. The party had demanded transfer of the SSP or administrative action to maintain fairness in the electoral process. They demanded that the biased conduct of SSP Ravjot Grewal requires initiation of a formal inquiry against him and disciplinary action including dismissal from service. He also urged other civil and police officials in the constituency not to follow the unconstitutional orders of the AAP leadership and ensure free and fair elections. Voting for Tarn Taran by-election will be held on November 11 and the results will be declared on November 14. This seat had become vacant after the death of AAP MLA Kashmir Singh Sohal in June.
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