Poll officials face FIRs over lapses in Tripura vote

The Election Commission (EC) will file FIRs against presiding officers and political activists who indulged in malpractices during the first phase of polling in Tripura West Lok Sabha constituency on April 11, according to officials on Thursday.

“Following the instructions of the EC, I have asked all the 19 Assistant Returning Officers to file FIRs with the police against those presiding officers, polling officials, polling agents and political activists who indulged in unlawful activities and disturbed the election process,” Returning Officer to the Tripura West Lok Sabha constituency Sandeep Mahatme told

Mahatme, also the District Magistrate and Collector of West Tripura District, said, “At the moment we are unable to tell the exact number of people against whom FIRs are being registered as the process is on in several places.”

The police have been asked to arrest people involved in offences during the polling. They were being identified by studying webcasting, CCTV footage, official documents and complaints of the political parties, the official said.