‘Missing’ elected panchayat members found in Pithoragarh

DEHRADUN/PITHORAGARH: Fortyone newly elected panchayat members, who were reportedly missing, were found staying at a hotel in Dharchula area of Pithoragarh district on Monday, said police officials.

Local police went to the hotel after getting an input, officials added.

Police challaned the hotel management for allowing the members to stay without having valid ID proofs. Only four of the members were found with valid ID proofs, police officials said.

“We took the action while following the directions of Nainital high court, which, while hearing a petition on horse-trading during panchayat elections, directed the authorities to take strict action against those found doing it. On Monday, while inspecting the hotel, we asked its management to tell the members to vacate as there was doubt that they were brought there by someone trying to use wrong means to influence the election,” said RC Rajguru, Pithoragarh district superintendent of police.

“We also challaned the hotel for allowing the members to stay without showing valid ID proofs under relevant sections of Police Act. We suspect that after vacating the hotel, the members would leave for Nepal which shares a border with the state,” Rajgurum said.

Police sent a report on the action to the district magistrate.

On October 17, HC directed the authorities concerned to take strict action against anyone found to influence the panchayat elections by horse-trading.

It gave the direction while hearing a petition filed by advocate Vipul Jain, who alleged luring of elected panchayat members with money, foreign tours and other means to influence the process of choosing chairpersons of zila panchayats and chhetra panchayats.