ITANAGAR, Apr 13: Several officers were assaulted while on election duty on 11 April, forcing the Arunachal Pradesh Civil Service Officers’ Association (APCSOA) to seek definitive action from the authorities.
The association on Saturday said the officers may “defy election duties in the future” if the state authorities and the chief electoral officer (CEO) fail to take any tangible action against the assaulters and sufficient security personnel are not deployed with the officers during the remaining stages of the election process.
The APCSOA cited several instances of assault on officers, including physical assault on the circle officer of Phassang (under the Nyapin ADC/RO) in Kurung Kumey district on 5 April.
“The Sangram SDO (also under the Nyapin ADC/RO) was physically assaulted on the midnight of 11 April. His government quarters and personal vehicle were also damaged. The assault could have been prevented if the security personnel of the SDO had not been withdrawn just before the polling day. The SDO is currently undergoing medical treatment. Also, the Daporijo SDO and designated RO of the Nacho assembly constituency was assaulted on 12 April while he was trying to save the presiding officer from being manhandled by a group of supporters of an MLA candidate. In another incident, the Nyapin ADC/RO and his family were threatened and verbally abused at his government quarters by the supporters of an MLA candidate on the midnight of 11 April,” the association said.
It said that despite repeated submission of memorandums and representations seeking sufficient security personnel, the state authorities never took its request seriously, which it said resulted in such incidents.
Stating that several incidents of minor attacks and assaults go unreported, the APCSOA urged the authorities not to remain mute spectators, and demanded that the CEO issue strict instructions to the agency concerned to book all the persons involved in the assaults on the officers.
The association further demanded that the authorities provide sufficient compensation to the officials.
