Surinder Singla slaps poll official, case registered

Chandigarh, Feb 13 (UNI) Punjab Finance Minister and Congress candidate Surinder Singla was booked for assaulting a poll official on duty in a polling station in the prestigious Majitha assembly segment this afternoon.

Majitha falls under Amritsar parliamentary constituency where Mr Singla is locked with BJP's high-profile candidate Navjot Singh Sidhu in a ten-cornered contest.

The state's Chief Electoral Officer Sundaram Krishan told reporters here that the incident occured when the poll officer was helping out a old woman with weak eyesight, in casting her vote on request, in booth no 26.

Mr Singla, who entered the booth just then and became enraged at the sight, slapped the official, alleging that he was helping her to cast the vote for the opposition candidate.

There was a commotion in the booth over the incident and the matter was reported by the presiding officer to the District Returning Officer, who in turn, reported it to the Special Observer, who intimated the EC.

The EC swung into action and after verifying the matter, ordered a case (FIR no 15) be registered against Mr Singla in Majitha Police station. Mr Singla has been booked under charges of assaulting a poll offficial on duty.

Meanwhile, the concerned polling officer was also asked to leave the booth as aspersions had been cast against him.

UNI