Jajpur: Jajpur Collector and district election officer Ranjan Kumar Das Monday suspended two presiding officers and a fourth polling officer in this district citing dereliction in duty.
According to sources, these officers were trying to influence poll outcomes.
Presiding officer Baikunth Nath Mallick was suspended for allegedly trying to influence voters at Booth number-191 of Binjharpur Assembly constituency in this district. When the matter was brought to the notice of the District Collector, he directed the immediate suspension and arrest of Mallick.
Mallick, present as the presiding officer of the booth, was allegedly pursuing voters to cast votes in favour of a particular political party after polls started at 7:00am.
Similarly, Collector Das also suspended Dhirendra Tripathy and Janarddan Prusty.
They were posted as presiding officer and fourth polling officer at booth number 135 of Kalyanpur School under Binjharpur constituency and booth number 196 of Olak School under Sukinda Assembly constituency respectively.
PNN