Shillong: A polling officer died in Meghalaya when the vehicle in which he was travelling overturned, an election official said on Sunday.
Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Frederick Roy Kharkongor said a vehicle carrying the polling officials enroute to Jangrapara polling station under Tikrikilla Assembly Constituency capsized at Potamati village on Saturday night.
Kharkongor said Chesham Chandra Marak who was deputed as the Second Polling officer at Jangrapara polling station succumbed to his injuries.
Police said the driver of the ill-fated pickup jeep fled away from the accident site leaving the polling team with injuries, including Marak who sustained head injuries.
Meanwhile, police have registered a case and investigation is on to ascertain the exact cause of the accident.
Kharkongor said the Election department has granted Rs 15 lakh as exgratia of compensation to the next of kin of the polling official who died while on duty.
“We salute the tangible contributions of all polling officials involved in the poll process and acknowledge with gratitude,the momentous efforts put in by each and every member of the Election machinery as the true “foot soldiers “ of democracy,” the Chief Electoral Officer said.
