Team Herald
PANJIM: Postal ballots of around 600-650 Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) personnel, deployed on election duty in Uttar Pradesh, are lying either at their residences or respective police stations as no authorities have so far taken the responsibility to ensure their timely voting.
These postal ballots had in fact reached their designated places about a week prior to the Assembly Polls in Goa on February 14; however election duty kept some of them away from voting. Their last hope is to reach prior to the counting to ensure they exercise their right to vote.
“The IRBians followed their protocol. Some submitted their residence address and the remaining opted to vote from the police station, where they were posted on routine law and order duty. But the week prior to the polling day was hectic. While we don’t complain since it is part of our duty, we should be given a chance to cast our votes,” said one of them wishing anonymity.
Quite a few nevertheless managed to vote through postal ballots. For those who didn’t get a chance, are keeping their fingers crossed to return before the counting begins across the polling States including Goa. “It can happen provided the personnel are relieved soon after the polls in UP and ensure they are back in their home State before March 10. The personnel are already assigned duty till the last phase of UP elections on March 7. Neither is their return date confirmed nor has higher ups checked on the train availability to Goa. It’s a matter of 600 plus votes and no fresh ballots can be issued,” said another.
The IRB personnel (along with the Goa Police and the Central Armed Police Force) were on rigorous duty from February 13 and were relieved around 10-11am of February 15 soon after which they had to board a special train to UP. The Goa Police, IRB and CAPF’s election duty had begun soon after the code of conduct came into force on January 8.
Ten companies comprising 950 approx personnel reached their destination last Thursday, February 17, after a two-day journey.
Meanwhile, sources said Goa Police has already obtained details of all those who did not vote on February 14.
