NE NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, MAY 2
With the counting of votes underway, the Election Commission Sunday said it has taken a stern view of reports of congregation of people to celebrate anticipated victory, and has asked the chief secretaries concerned to file an FIR in each case and suspend the police station in charge where such gatherings happen.
Meanwhile, an Inspector attached to Teynampet Police station in Chennai has been placed under suspension for failing to enforce Covid-19 norms at the DMK party headquarters on Sunday.
https://twitter.com/bharathi_AJ/status/1388693793877028866
Responding to queries about reports of celebratory gatherings by supporters of political parties, an EC spokesperson said the poll panel has taken a serious note of some reports of congregations of people to celebrate anticipated victory.
Even after repeated warnings from MHC and orders against any celebrations in the voting day, 100's DMK cadres gather at party office violating the health department guidelines. Most of them are without masks and social distancing give for a toss. #WearAMask #covid19 pic.twitter.com/Ckc0dZpuW9
— Mugilan Chandrakumar (@Mugilan__C) May 2, 2021
“The ECI has directed CS (chief secretaries) of all five states to file FIR in each such case, suspend the SHO of the concerned police station and report action taken immediately of each such incidence,” the spokesperson said.
The EC had recently banned victory processions on the counting day to curb the spread of coronavirus.
The counting of votes for the assembly polls in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and the Union Territory of Puducherry is underway at a time the country is grappling with a raging COVID-19 pandemic.
The counting process began at 8 am.
