EC notices to wanted persons

Statesman News Service

MALDA,( India) Nov. 21 — Following directives from the Election Commission, the Malda district poll department issued over 3,500 notices to the persons against whom arrest warrants had been issued by the police.

Though the notifications were circulated a few weeks ago, till date the administration has been able to identify only 350 persons, a mere 10 per cent of the total voters, who have criminal backgrounds according to police records.

The EC has issued notices asking them to appear in their respective block development offices (BDO) along with the notification.

A senior officer said that if the voters who have received the notice do not appear before the BDOs their names will be deleted from the final electoral roll.

After an extension of the earlier date for final publication the district election authorities have been directed to expedite revision of electoral roll for its final publication on 15 February.

Interestingly, officials prefer to keep mum when asked whether the notification was issued to four leaders — Mr ABA Ghani Khan Choudhury MP, Mr Mostak Alam MLA, Mr KN Choudhury, the district president of the Trinamul Congress and Mr Abdur Rouf, the CPI-M district committee member and elected member of the Malda Zilla Parishad.

It is learnt that there is a family dispute case against the MP in the Malda court. Though the Congress MLA has managed to get a favourable verdict, people are eager to know whether there are any pending cases against him following the Election Commission directive.

The Trinamul leader had 23 cases and has managed to get bail. It is learnt that there are over 15 cases against CPI-M leader Mr Rouf.

The CPI-M district secretary, Mr Jiban Moitra, said: “As far as I know Mr Rouf had police cases including murder in the year 1979 to 82 and he has got bail in all cases”.

Recent reports said there were a few warrants against Mr Rouf and he would be forced to surrender before the court very soon.

Mr Moitra also said: “A few CPI-M workers came to seek suggestions after receiving notices from the Election Commission and I told them to appear before the BDO soon”. #

Meet for electoral roll revision

MALDA, (India). Nov. 22. — The Malda district magistrate has called an all political party meeting on 29 November to discuss various issues related to the ongoing process of revision of electoral rolls. Officials said that the persons against whom arrest warrants had been issued by police may be discussed at the meeting.

The issue of two polling stations which were eroded away from the two Assembly constituencies is one of the main agendas of this all political party meeting.

A few weeks ago, the district election officials held another meeting on the issue of arrest warrants and discussed a lot about it with a view to delete the names of absconders based on police records.

The election officials said that they are trying to find out the names of absconders by using a particular software.

By using this software the officials have got 20 per cent names who have existence in the present electoral rolls.

After receiving the list of wanted persons, prepared by the state police, from the State Election Commission, the district officials have issued notices to over 3500 wanted persons.

After receiving such a notice, all the persons concerned will have to appear before the assistant electoral registration officer in their respective areas before 15 February 2006. On the basis of the report of the AERO, the names of unidentified persons will be deleted from the final electoral roll, the officials said. — SNS

Arrest planned

MALDA, Nov. 25 — The Malda police are considering arresting the wanted persons in consultation with the assistant electoral registration officer, officials said on Friday .

The Malda SP said that some persons who were absconding were now attending a hearing of the AERO at the block development office.

The authorities have to think twice before arresting from the BDO’s office as it would create law and order problems.

“We are adopting a strategy to nab them in consultation with the AERO technically”, said Mr DK Mondal, SP, Malda.

On the other hand, following the hearing conducted by the AERO, it was found that some persons who were wanted in the police list as Congress activists are under the shelter of the CPI-M.

The AEROs have found similar turncoats.

For example, in Manikchak block out of 71 wanted persons only 23 persons have appeared in the hearing in the first phase.

Many of them belong to the CPI-M. An AERO also said that a few wanted notices related to personal and family matters over the land dispute and a few of the cases perhaps are false.

On the question of false cases the Malda SP, Mr DK Mondal, said: “There is no question of false warrant. They are based on court cases”. #