Odisha CEO orders suspension and arrest of two chairmen

Bhubaneswar: Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Odisha Nikunja Bihari Dhal on Monday ordered Ganjam Collector Dibya Jyoti Parida to suspend chairmen of three polling booths and arrest two of them for serious dereliction of duty.

“Now we have directed Ganjam Collector to suspend three presiding officers and arrest two of them. The reason is that they have committed a serious breach of duty. They are chairpersons of Chhatrapur booth number 27 and Chhatrapur polling station number 163. They are suspended and also arrested. It has also been ordered to suspend the chairman of Gopalpur booth no. 193,” Dhal informed a press spokesperson here.

Earlier, Dhal had ordered the suspension of two election officials – an election officer and a presiding officer.

Elections are currently being held in the four parliamentary constituencies of Berhampur, Koraput, Nabarangpur and Kalahandi and the 28 parliamentary constituencies below.