Shillong, Feb 26: The Citizens Forum of 25 Mawsynram Constituency Monday sought action against the officer in-charge of Mawsynram police station for allegedly violating the model code of conduct.

In a letter of complaint to the Chief Electoral Officer FR Kharkongor on Monday, the forum’s common platform organizer Banshai Marbaniang alleged that the OC of Mawsynram police station for denying the forum to conduct a common public platform for all candidates by citing traffic congestion as the reason.

He informed that this was despite permit was granted by the Returning Officer of the said constituency on February 16, which was also informed to thelocal headman on February 19 for permission.

“The OC said that we should relocate somewhere else about 500 meters away from the venue where we planning to arrange and that no need to disturb the people in the market area,” Marbaniang said.

Finally, he said with no respite in hand and with an aim to complete the programme they had to relocate to another place and due to this the programme allegedly became a failure as it was impossible to intimate the general public about the change in venue.

The meeting was held on February 23 and the refusal of permission was only informed to the organizers barely 10 hours before the progamme, he said..

Referring to the relevant sections of the Model Code of Conduct, Marbaniang said it was clearly stated “The Party or Candidate shall inform the local Police authorities of the venue and time any proposed meeting well in time so as to enable the police to make necessary arrangements for controlling traffic and maintaining peace and order”.

“Nowhere in the Model Code of Conduct is given any reason to disallow holding of a meeting on grounds of Traffic Congestion,” he said while adding hence, the actions of the OC of Mawsynram PS was in clear violation of the Model Code of Conduct.

Marbaniang also urged the authority concern to take action against the erring officer as his action has caused irreparable harm to their reputations and social standing.