Polling Official Found Dead in Assam: Allegations of Negligence Arise
Tragic Discovery in Karbi Anglong
A file image of deceased poll official, Cornelius Kindu. (Photo:X)
Guwahati, April 19: Authorities have recovered the decomposed body of a polling official who had been missing during election duties in the hilly region of Assam's Karbi Anglong district.
The individual has been identified as Cornelius Kindu, who was serving as the third polling officer at the Sarpo Kathar LP School polling station.
Local residents discovered his body in the Rongwongwey area on Saturday and promptly notified the authorities. Officials confirmed the recovery on Sunday.
Kindu had been unaccounted for since April 9, coinciding with the day of the Assembly elections in Assam, after he reportedly left the polling station due to health issues.
He never returned home to Diphu, prompting a search operation. Police, aided by drones, scoured the challenging terrain for several days without success until the body was found.
The precise cause of death is still undetermined and will be established following a post-mortem examination, according to officials.
This incident has led to accusations of negligence from Kindu's family and local leaders, who assert that he exhibited signs of medical distress during polling hours but did not receive the necessary care.
His daughter claimed that he had been unwell and experienced multiple seizures while on duty. She stated, “We were told he left the polling station to go home, but he never arrived. If he had been taken to a hospital promptly, he might have survived. He reportedly collapsed twice during his duty, yet no proper medical assistance was provided.”
A local leader echoed these concerns, questioning the actions of the polling authorities. “We learned that he had pre-existing health conditions and even had seizures at the polling station. In such circumstances, the presiding officer should have immediately sought medical help. Instead, he was merely instructed to rest in a room,” he remarked.
Further raising concerns, the leader pointed out the puzzling nature of how a physically weakened individual could have made his way to a remote hilltop area. “We demand clarity on how he left the station without notice and why there was a lack of proper monitoring,” he stated, also calling for a high-level inquiry.
Additionally, he urged for a CBI investigation into the matter, alleging significant lapses by the district election authorities. As the investigation unfolds, this case has highlighted serious concerns regarding the safety and welfare of polling personnel assigned to remote and difficult terrains.