Election staff arrested for violating norms in Mendhar

Mendhar, J&K, Nov 17 (UNI) Five government employees, including the Presiding Officer, were today arrested for violation of model electoral code of conduct here in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir.

The election staff of Gursai-A polling station (Booth No. 89), including the presiding officer, were arrested for not reporting at their place of deployment and staying overnight at the residence of a candidate contesting election, Deputy Commissioner Poonch told UNI.

The arrested election staff was identified as Inderjeet Singh, Presiding Officer, Mohammad Farooq, Mohammad Rashid, Mohammad Salim, polling officers and Abdul Qayoom, helper.

An FIR against the accused election staff was registered at Gursai police station for the breach of official conduct in connection with the elections.

New staff was deployed at the polling station and the voting started with nearly two hours delay. ''People were already waiting for the staff at 0800 hrs, the scheduled time for the start of the polling,'' an official on duty informed.

Ten constituencies of Jammu and Kashmir, including Surankote, Mendhar and Poonch-Haveli in Poonch district, went to polls today in the first phase of the seven-phase Assembly elections in the state.

UNI VJ ARB KP1426