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EC will keep an eye on role of police in upcoming UP elections: Nasim Zaidi

News Agencies | Updated on: 11 February 2017, 5:46 IST

The Election Commission today said it will keep an eye on the role of the police in the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, apart from focusing on the use of money and muscle power.

Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi said that holding free and fair election in the state would not be a problem if unbiased action is taken at the police station level.

"During meeting with representatives of political parties, apprehensions were raised that police force might be misused in favour of some party. We will keep an eye on the police," said Zaidi.

"In the coming elections, our main focus will be on police stations, the Election Commission's (EC) eye will be at the police stations as the EC feels that if unbiased action is taken, there will be no problem in holding free and fair polls," he said.

The CEC said the Commission had also received complaints about sub-inspectors being made in charge of the police stations instead of inspector-level officers, and that they take "biased" actions.

"The EC has directed that the charge of police stations should be given to inspector-level officers," he said.

To a question that over 50% police stations were being headed by officers of a particular community, Zaidi said posting at police stations will be made as per the Election Commission's policy.

On the request of political parties that central forces should be deployed before the nominations to check incidents in which candidates were prevented from filing nominations, the CEC said the EC will try for their deployment in places where there is such apprehension.

-PTI

First published: 27 September 2016, 5:00 IST