THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Daltonganj, Nov 13: In an unprecedented move, District Election Officer cum Deputy Commissioner Shashi Ranjan has put two contestants under constant surveillance by one surveillance team each for the whole long day of the polling today in the Panki assembly constituency.
Flying surveillance teams shadow contestants
The move to keep ‘watch and vigil’ on the two contestants is to keep public order and tranquillity intact on the day of polling today, said sources.
Speaking to this correspondent today, Shashi Ranjan said, “We have put two contestants here in the Panki assembly constituency under surveillance for the whole day today. Our flying surveillance team is shadowing the contestants taking record of their each and every action in public and their movement.”
“This is the safety measure to preempt any such situation which may mar the voting,” reiterated the DC.
The two contestants are independent candidate Devender Kumar Singh alias Bittu Singh and the BJP candidate Shashibhushan Mehta, the outgoing BJP MLA.
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Alleged assault of BJP candidate’s supporter
Shashi Ranjan said, “This constant surveillance for the day today of the two contestants is the fall out of an ugly incident that took place in the Panki assembly constituency on Tuesday night”
SDPO Lesliganj Manoj Kr Jha told this correspondent, “A supporter of BJP candidate Shashibhushan Mehta identified as Ramdas Sahu was roughed up allegedly by the supporters of the independent candidate Bittu Singh at Bedani More.”
Ramdas Sahu is a great name here in the Panki assembly constituency for his multifarious trade activities like luxury hotels to rice mill to stone crushing plant etc.
Jha said, “Police swung into action. It conducted late-night raids. Three offenders identified as Tarachand Yadav, Rajesh Yadav and Chintu Pandey have been arrested.”
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District Officials engaged in confidence-building measures
SDPO Jha further said, “The situation is all peaceful for voting. Police have intensified its movement.”
Early morning DC Shashi Ranjan and DDC Shabbir Ahmad pushed off for the Panki assembly constituency and took stock of the situation there.
As part of the CBM (confidence building measure) the two sipped cups of tea along a roadside tea stall in full public view. The two met the voters in queue there too.
DC Shashi Ranjan again stood in the queue at the Palamu club booth for 15 minutes before he could cast his vote here.
