Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: EC Monday ordered the immediate replacement of five senior superintendents of police (SSPs) in Assam and four superintendents of police (SPs) in Tamil Nadu as part of its post-poll announcement overhaul of the police setup in the interest of “free, fair, and peaceful elections”. Making key SSP-level changes in Assam, EC Monday named Somalin Shubhdarshini as SSP, Majuli; R Sheetal Kumar as SSP, South Salmara; Anchal Chauhan as SSP, Sadiya; Sudhakar Singh as SSP, Chirang; and Mohan Lal Meena as SSP, Dhemaji. In TN, EC made changes in four districts, bringing in D N Harikiran Prasad as SP, Karur; D V Kiran Shruthi as SP, Erode; Sujith Kumar as SP, Nagapattinam; and N Shreenatha as SP, Virudhunagar. A compliance report regarding joining of the said police officers has been sought from the Assam and Tamil Nadu secretary by 11pm Tuesday. EC has directed that the five SSPs of Assam Police and four SPs of Tamil Nadu transferred out by EC shall not be posted in any election-related posts until completion of polls. In two other poll-related measures taken by EC in Assam, retired civil servant Manjeet Singh, a 1988 batch IAS officer from Rajasthan cadre, was appointed as special observer in the state. He will visit Assam from time to time to observe the poll preparedness and the conduct of assembly polls and give his inputs to the EC for necessary action. EC also appointed five IAS officers as district election officers (DEOs) in Assam, based on a list provided by Assam chief secretary. While P Uday Praveen is to be posted as DEO of Kokrajhar; Srishti Singh was named as DEO, Majuli; Kimnei Changsan as DEO of Baksa, Madhusudan Nath as DEO, Chirang and Jay Vikash as DEO, Udalguri. EC said its directions as regards appointments of DEOs are to be implemented with immediate effect and a compliance report in respect of their joining must be sent by 3 pm on Tuesday. Meanwhile, EC has issued directions on strict implementation of model code in the poll-going states. Ministers have been told not to combine official duties with electioneering while parties have been asked to inform the police in advance of meetings and processions, to enable traffic and security arrangements.
