Chandigarh May 10:The State Election Commission, Punjab today changed an Assistant Returning Officer (ARO) in block Kahnuwan District Gurdaspur and issued directions to transfer SHO, Police Station Payal district Ludhiana.Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the State Election Commission said that Mr. Sukhdev Raj, Sub-Divisional Engineer has been appointed as new ARO of Panchayat Samiti Kahnuwan and Zila Parishad Gurdaspur Zone No. 13 Zafarwal replacing Mr. Ram Gopal Sub-Divisional Engineer. Earlier to Ram Gopal Mr. Phuman Singh Tehsildar Kahnuwan was assigned the duty of ARO of this block.
In another case the Commission has issued directions to DIG Ludhiana Range to transfer SHO, Police Station Payal district Ludhiana immediately on the complaint of Mrs. Charanjit Kaur of village Kaddon Tehsil Payal District Ludhiana. It was alleged by the complaint that on the last day of filing of the nomination papers her son was illegally detained by registering a case against her son under the Excise Act and was physically tortured. The matter was got enquired into from the Sub-Divisional Magistrate Khanna and the Election Observer. They have found prima facie that he has acted in an illegal and partisan manner in this case. The Commission was convinced on the report that it would not be possible for the electors to exercise their franchise free and fearlessly during the incumbency of the current SHO, PS Payal.
The State Commission has directed to DIG and SSP Ludhiana to transfer SHO, PS, Payal forthwith to a non public dealing post till at least during the period when the election Code of Conduct is in force and the compliance report may please be faxed today itself.