State ‘wakes up’ to ensure IRBians cast their postal ballot before March 9 deadline

PANJIM: In what could be termed as utter mismanagement of State funds and particularly, the disciplined force, the Goa government has decided to replace close to 500 IRB personnel currently on poll duty in Uttar Pradesh (UP) with a fresh batch.

The decision comes against the backdrop of criticism that IRB personnel were deprived of exercising their voting rights for the Goa Assembly Polls held on February 14 by posting them in UP. With the authorities having now “woken up” to ensure that IRBians cast their postal ballot before the deadline on March 9, a haphazard arrangement is being made for their return and deployment of the new platoon in UP where the polls end on March 7. 

Sources told Herald that the IRB Deputy Commandant, in a fresh order issued on Monday afternoon, has directed the IRB personnel in Goa to report to IRB Camp. “In connection with the movement of IRBN Coys to Uttar Pradesh election duties and as directed by superior, below mentioned IRBN police personnel presently performing duties under your supervision shall report to IRBN Camp HQ, Altinho on 28.02.2022 at 2 pm along with all basic needs including warm clothing for briefing and further movement,” reads an extract of the wireless communication, exclusively accessed by Herald.

With this last minute decision and Indian Railways refusing to make special arrangements for a train from Goa to UP, the alternate batch might have to travel by road. Sources said Goa Police has approached the Kadamba Transport Corporation to provide over a dozen inter-state buses to ply the personnel to UP. 

“It is a bizarre decision of the Goa Police to make an abrupt decision with no proper arrangement in place. Not only they are asking us to report and relieve the IRB personnel in UP with immediate effect, but also forcing the platoons to travel by road. Who is going to take the overall responsibility?” questioned one of them.

Sources informed Herald that while some units will, for the time being, function without any staff owing to the last minute arrangement, many who had returned home/barracks after their night shift and those reporting for the night shift were immediately summoned. “Not a wise decision to treat the personnel in such a way. It is better not to vote than go through this physical and mental stress,” said another. 

If KTC gives its nod with additional drivers and helpers, the fresh batch of IRB personnel are likely to leave on Tuesday afternoon.

“Is it facilitating a voter to vote or discouraging from voting? The motto of Election Commission of India is to encourage voting but the manner in which arrangements are made, the Goa Police and Office of Chief Electoral Office is making it difficult for the IRBN to vote by ballot,” another IRBN complained. 

Herald was the first to report that majority out of approximately 950 IRB personnel, who were sent to UP on February 15, did not cast their vote and since their return is not confirmed, they were likely to miss their postal ballot with the last day being March 9.