Jammu, December 13: Two government school teachers among three employees, who happened to be part of poll staff were placed under suspension by Poonch District Panchayat Election Officer, Rahul Yadav, after a ballot paper for District Development Council elections in Balakote area was found posted on social media, nearly 12 hours ahead of the start of polling on Sunday morning.
Those suspended include Gulzar Ahmed, master at Government Higher Secondary School at Gunhal in Surankote; Asif Iqbal, teacher at Government Middle School, Harni and Mohammad Yousuf, junior assistant at High School Kalai.
Giving details, sources said that on Saturday, polling material was distributed among poll parties for Balakote constituency which was going to polls during the 6th phase of DDC elections next day. However, during late evening hours, a photograph of the ballot paper was found posted on social networking sites.
Following this, DPEO Rahul Yadav, who also happens to be Poonch Deputy Commissioner, sought a report in the matter from Returning Officer Balakote.
The latter on the basis of serial number printed on the ballot paper recognised the concerned polling party who was handed it along with other polling material earlier during the day.
Following RO’s report, Yadav suspended all the three polling staff members and ordered the District Education Planning Officer to enquire into the matter and submit a detailed report at the earlier.