Kolkata: The Election Commission has set February 17 as a deadline for the West Bengal government to ensure that FIRs are registered against four officers over the alleged inclusion of ‘ghost’ voters in the electoral rolls in two districts, an official said on Saturday.
The commission had earlier ordered the suspension of two electoral registration officers (EROs) and two assistant electoral registration officers (AEROs) from Baruipur Purba in South 24 Parganas and Moyna in Purba Medinipur districts over alleged inclusion of “fake” or “ghost” voters in the electoral rolls.
It had also directed the authorities that FIRs be lodged at the police stations concerned against them.
Previously, district election officers had been instructed to file FIRs due to alleged irregularities, such as the unlawful inclusion of names. Although the state government has suspended the officers and initiated proceedings, FIRs remain unfiled, prompting the deadline. The situation coincides with the Special Intensive Revision of the electoral rolls in West Bengal.
