EC issues notice to DC as IPS, IAS officers cross swords in UP

Lucknow: The Election Commission on Sunday issued notice to Divisional Commissioner of Basti seeking explanation on alleged misbehaviour with an SP, even as Uttar Pradesh government has set up a two-member committee to look into the matter after the IPS Association demanded strong action against the IAS officer.

"On a complaint lodged by IPS Association the EC has sought an explanation from commissioner Basti Anurag Srivastava by January 31," chief electoral officer of Uttar Pradesh Umesh Sinha told PTI.

He said that explanation has been sought on two points - using indecent language and asking an IPS officer to leave the meeting hall.

During a meeting to review poll preparations on Thursday, divisional commissioner Srivastava expressed displeasure over lack of coordination between Siddharth Nagar district magistrate V Chaitra and superintendent of police Mohit Gupta.

Srivastava while blaming the SP allegedly used derogatory language and Gupta resisted he was reportedly asked to get out of the meeting hall.

Earlier in the day, a delegation of IPS Association met Cabinet Secretary Shashank Shekhar Singh in this connection and submitted a memorandum, official sources said.

Following the meeting, the state government has constituted a two member committee, including Industrial Development Commissioner V N Garg and DG, Anti-corruption Arun Kumar, they said.

"The committee has been asked to submit its report within three days on better coordination between IAS and IPS officers," sources said.

The development comes a day after the transferred DM and SP of Siddharthnagar. While DM Siddharth Nagar, V Chaitra swapped place with DM Panchsheelnagar, Saurabh Babu, SP Mohit Gupta was shifted as SP Farrukhabad in place of O P Sagar.