The Haryana Police Sangathan, representing serving and former police personnel in the state, has raised serious allegations regarding the integrity of the electoral process. They assert that thousands of their members ballots for the Lok Sabha elections were stolen, depriving them of a fair vote, as reported by The Wire.During the Lok Sabha elections in Haryana, polling took place across all 10 parliamentary seats on May 25. Police personnel on duty during polling day typically vote through the postal ballot system. This involves filling out a formal application known as Form 12, allowing them to send in their votes via mail.Disturbing reports from HaryanaAccording to Dilawar Singh, the president of the Haryana Police Sangathan, police officials were instructed to submit their Form 12 along with unstamped ballot papers at their district police superintendents offices or district police headquarters. This deviates from the standard practice, which involves individual voting in the presence of election candidates or agents.Allegations of manipulationThe association alleges manipulation of their postal ballots and infringement upon their right to franchise by senior police officials within the administration. They have urged the state Election Commission to investigate the matter thoroughly.Past incidentsSingh highlighted previous incidents of alleged collusion between senior police officials and the state administration during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. This purported collusion resulted in several police personnel refraining from voting this year.Concerns raisedSingh expressed concerns over the lack of transparency in the voting process, noting instances where police officials were required to deposit their forms, Aadhaar cards, and voter IDs at the superintendent of polices office. Such actions, he argued, undermine the principles of free and fair elections.While Superintendent of Police Arsh Verma of Mahendragarh district denied the existence of any directive instructing police officials to deposit their Form 12 along with their particulars, concerns persist. Verma assured that there would be no impediment to the free and fair casting of votes by police personnel.
