Polling officer dies of shock

MALKANGIRI: A polling officer Punil Bihari Sarkar died on Saturday at the district headquarters hospital here. Sources said Sarkar fell unconscious while waiting in the Kudmulgumma block office to receive polling materials for the final phase election on Sunday. He was rushed to the district headquarters hospital here, where he succumbed. A teacher by profession in the MV-60 primary school, Sarkar (50) was to conduct the polling in Ralegada booth in the cut-offregion.Collector Balwant Singh said though the polling officer was immediately shifted to the hospital he succumbed. His family would not be eligible for compensation, he added.Family members claimed he had died of shock after he came to know that he was appointed as a polling officer in the cut-off area.  They demanded compensation as recently announced by the SEC as he was on duty.