EC takes action against UP policemen violating poll guidelines

Acting on complaints, the Election Commission on Wednesday ordered suspension of police personnel violating its guidelines on checking of voters and stopping them from casting votes in the Uttar Pradesh bypolls, officials said. This comes after SP president Akhilesh Yadav urged the EC to suspend all police officers who are checking voter cards and Aadhaar IDs on basis of video evidence. Acting on the Commission's directions, district election officers and superintendents of police, after verifying the complaints, have suspended the police personnel for their conduct. The  EC ordered the suspension of several officers, including those deployed in the Sisamau assembly constituency of Kanpur.
The Police Commissionerate of Kanpur Nagar suspended the concerned sub-inspectors, Arun Kumar Singh and Rakesh Nadar, for violating the guidelines. In a post on X, it said, “Everyone has been directed to ensure complete compliance with the election process.”
The BJP dismissed these claims, instead requesting that identity verification for burqa-clad voters be intensified. The BJP alleged "fake voting" in some assembly constituencies including Sisamau. "In fact, some men have worn burqa and tried to vote. On many occasions, they have been stopped by poll officials. if the identity of burqa-clad women is not checked, fake voting will take place. Only proper checking will ensure fair and transparent voting," BJP's Akhilesh Kumar Awasthi wrote in a letter to the Chief Electoral Officer of Uttar Pradesh.