The Hindu : Front Page : EC orders transfer of head constables

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Friday, Jun 08, 2007
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EC orders transfer of head constables

R.K. Radhakrishnan and S. Vijay Kumar

Grade 1 and 2 constables allowed to continue in Madurai West constituency

Naresh Gupta

R.K. Radhakrishnan

and S. Vijay Kumar

CHENNAI/MADURAI: The Election Commission said on Thursday that head constables in the Madurai West Assembly constituency, who were native of that place or had put in three years in a police station there, should be transferred.

Meeting the demand of the State Government halfway, the EC allowed grade 1 and grade 2 police constables to continue in the constituency. By-elections to the constituency will be held on June 26.

Chief Electoral Officer Naresh Gupta conveyed the Commission decision to Director General of Police D. Mukherjee.

Earlier directive

The Commission had, on May 28, directed the Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary to shift all police/civil officials, who had completed three years of service during the last four years in the constituency.

Since the rule attracted the transfer of nearly 335 constables and head constables, Additional Director General of Police and Commissioner A. Surbamanian wrote to the Director General of Police pointing out that the "mass transfer" might affect election security arrangements.

He pointed out that transfer of constabulary from seven police stations in the constituency would result in a dearth of police personnel, who knew the identity of anti-social and extremist elements.

The revised transfer guideline would be a relief for law enforcing authorities, as 171 constables need not be shifted.

Steps have been taken to replace 161 head constables who will have to be moved out, police sources said.

Poll Observer Ajay Tyagi arrived in Madurai on Thursday and held discussions with senior police and revenue officials on pre-poll arrangements. He inspected a few polling stations in the evening.

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