CEO: Police flouted norms to detain Hemant Soren proposer

RANCHI: Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren ’s poll proposer in Barhait (ST), Mandal Murmu, was detained by police in violation of Election Commission (EC) poll guidelines, state chief electoral officer (CEO) K Ravi Kumar said on Monday. According to BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, Murmu was on his way to Ranchi to discuss the issue of Bangladeshi infiltrations with senior BJP politicians but was searched at an inter-district check-post in Giridih’s Dumri block and then detained at Dhanbad’s Seraidhela police station. He was released in the early hours of Monday.

“The EC’s guidelines dictate that the entire process of searching a vehicle at check-posts needs to be video-graphed. But it was not followed. The guidelines also mandate that if nothing objectionable, such as illicit liquor or unaccounted cash or narcotics, is found, the passengers must be let off. This was also not done,” the CEO said.

“An inquiry report was sought and forwarded to the EC. .Directives are awaited,” he said. Suspecting foul play on BJP’s part, JMM said attempts were being made to compromise the loyalty of Soren’s proposer using unfair means.