Thiruvananthapuram: Policemen were denied duty vote, allowing associations to tamper with their ballots. Despite collector's directive for cops to vote in any booth if they were on duty in their own constituency, this was sabotaged so that they chose postal ballots instead.
Out of the 55,000 policemen on the force, only 20% were working out of their respective constituencies. The election commission's directive on policemen’s right to duty vote was not handed down to district police chiefs or nodal officers by the DGP.
The list of policemen on duty was prepared 45 days ahead of polls. They could have voted at any booth in their own constituency after obtaining a certificate from the collectorate by submitting election duty certificate (EDC) from their superiors.
However, the cops who approached their superiors were told that there were no such directions from above. When some approached district chiefs and nodal officers, their response was, ‘let them apply for postal ballots’. They were thus forced to give up duty votes.
Applications for postal and EDC votes have to be submitted on forms 12 and 12(A) respectively. No nodal officers except in Idukki were given 12(A) forms. 1,200 or 70% policemen in Idukki used duty votes. Nodal officers were given the responsibility to collect postal ballots in districts for the first time ever. When all other states in the country provided a booth in each district exclusively for policemen, Kerala failed to do that too.
Police and officers associations affiliated to the CPM handled all postal ballots. Cops above Principal SIs were moved to other districts as per model code of conduct while others stayed. Most association leaders are below that grade and worked at their own stations, making collection of ballots easy.
Investigation ordered
Chief Election Officer (CEO) Tikaram Meena has asked the DGP to book one policeman and initiate department-level disciplinary action. Investigation against four other was also sought. Police associations too have a hand in the foul play. This too needs to be probed and a report submitted before May 15, the CEO has directed.
Action has been sought against Vaishakh, a commando at Sree Padmanabha Swamy temple who asked others to hand over ballots in a WhatsApp voice message. His actions attract a jail term of 6 months. Four policemen of Thrissur IR Battalion – Arun Mohan, Rateesh, Rajesh Kumar and Manikuttan – received ballots for others at their address. Probe will be in their involvement. It will also be investigated if nodal officers failed in proper distribution of ballots.
Meanwhile, there is anger among the force for implicating just six of an IR Camp with 600 cops when state-level efforts were made to tamper with ballots. No association leader faces inquiry either.
