Bhubaneswar: The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO)-Odisha today ordered the District Collector of Ganjam to initiate legal action against three presiding officers for their dereliction of duty during polling in the district earlier in the day.

According to official sources, writing to the Collector Dibya Jyoti Parida, CEO Nikunja Bihari Dhal directed for suspension and arrest of two presiding officers of Booth Nos-27 and 163 in Chhatrapur of Ganjam, respectively. Similarly, the CEO directed for suspension of another presiding officer of Booth Nos-193 in Gopalpur. CEO order was issued based on visuals received from the polling booths through webcam.

Worth mentioning, polling for four MP seats and 28 MLA seats began in Odisha today, in the first phase of General Elections in the State and the fourth phase in the country.

Two more polling officials identified as Tejansu Saha and Manas Ranjan Sethy were also placed under suspension for dereliction of duty during the ongoing simultaneous elections.

Saha was on duty at a polling booth under Narla Lok Sabha segment of Kalahandi and Sethy was on duty at a polling booth in Berhampur of Ganjam district.