No magistracy power given to army: EC

The Election Commission (EC) on Thursday denied it has given magistracy power to the army deployed to keep order during the on-going upazila (UZ) elections. It said some media reports on this issue have not been objective. The commission had rather specially directed the armed forces to take instant action for curbing violence during the elections and to make their presence visible as striking forces, said a press release signed by its director (Public relations) SM Asaduzzaman. The commission informed the Armed Forces Division that concerned commissioned official can take necessary steps to prevent violence as per the section 131 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898. As per the section 131, any army commissioned officer can disperse any assembly, arrest and confine any one in absence of executive magistrate. But while it becomes practical for him to communicate with a magistrate, he shall do so and shall comply with the instructions of the magistrate, according to a news agency.