Intimidation at the polls: police personnel with batons along pistols threaten voters
by ShravyaIn a concerning incident in northern India’s Uttar Pradesh, a cop threatened voters coming out of their houses during the by-polls.
The incident took place in Muzaffarnagar district on November 20.
Visuals showed police personnel armed with batons and pistols, pointing at local voters while issuing threats to dissuade them from voting. Heated arguments erupted between the voters and the officers, with the street atmosphere becoming increasingly tense.
According to reports, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has intervened, directing authorities in Uttar Pradesh to ensure fair elections following complaints of voter intimidation. The ECI has suspended at least seven police personnel accused of violating voting guidelines, based on grievances raised by the Samajwadi Party.
“No eligible voter should be prevented from voting. Any kind of biased attitude during voting will not be tolerated. On receiving a complaint, there will be an immediate investigation. If anyone is found guilty, strict action will be taken,” the ECI said in a statement.