Team Herald
PANJIM: The IRB platoons are back and their road journey all the way from Mau District of Uttar Pradesh to Goa was definitely not a smooth ride.
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Around 450 IRBN personnel returned to Goa on Tuesday, at 4 am, a day prior to their actual arrival date, to cast their vote through postal ballots.
The discomforting KTC buses drive has taken a toll on their physical and mental health, the IRBNs alleged. But what’s ironical is that the already tired personnel are asked to report on duty without proper rest.
“Our entire journey was filled with bumpy rides. Our buses also broke down several times,” one of them said.
The personnel, who were dropped to their respective IRB Camps at Ribandar, Valpoi and Sanguem were asked to cast their vote on the very same day and to report for duty from on Wednesday, at 4 pm.
“First of all, the travel arrangements were pathetic which has taken a toll on us. Secondly, the (Goa Police) Department directed us to visit our respective places to cast our votes and report on duty the next day. Where is the time to take rest?” questioned another.
As many as 950 personnel were deployed on poll duty in Uttar Pradesh. An impromptu rail journey was planned to the northern State on February 15, hours after they were relieved from Goa Assembly elections duty.
After losing their bullets in a hurried arrangement at Vasco Railway Station, the department ran into another controversy for not allowing majority of their personnel to vote before sending them to Uttar Pradesh.
In an attempt to bring them back for voting, the department sent their replacement via bus and return of those who didn’t vote via the same mode of transport.
