Panchayat polls: Engineer put behind bars

Bettiah, Bihar, June 18 (UNI) An Assistant Engineer and five others were arrested for their alleged involvement in reported irregularities committed during the counting of votes of Gaheri panchayat under Nautan block in West Champaran district.

Engineer Yogendra Malkar, presently posted at Balmiki Nagar under Gandak project of Water Resources department, and five others -- all class three employees posted at collectorate and other offices in West Champaran district, were arrested last night on the complaint of Pradeep Kumar, a mukhiya candidate of the Gaheri Panchayat, who is currently in jail.

Police said Kumar had complained to the District Magistrate Rahul Singh about the irregularities committed by the counting personnel to influence the result in favour of a particular candidate.

Allegations levelled by Kumar were found prima facie true during the verification conducted by the senior officials of the district administration.

UNI XC-BNG-SJC-AKP AD GC1258