Guwahati/Hailakandi, Jan. 18: The state election commission today recommended to the government to initiate departmental action against an additional deputy commissioner posted in Hailakandi and suspension of seven schoolteachers for dereliction of duty during the panchayat elections in the district.

Election commissioner C.K. Sarma said the seven teachers were involved in the burning of ballot boxes and papers in the district on polling day. Police had earlier arrested 11 teachers who were deputed for poll duty for the unprecedented act. The teachers were later released on personal bonds.

The charges against additional deputy commissioner H.K. Nath was “poor performance” during the January 9 elections that led to electoral malpractices in some polling centres.

The commission has asked the government for immediate posting of two senior officials in the district as additional deputy commissioners so that the repolling could be conducted in a free and fair manner, Sarma said.

The police today arrested 166 members of various Opposition parties in front of the office of the deputy commissioner in Hailakandi for violating Section 144 CrPC.

The activists were on a six-hour token fast demanding fresh poll in Hailakandi. They were later released.