The Superintendent of Police (SP), Solan, suspended Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) Rakesh Kumar for dereliction of duty after he was found missing from guarding the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) at Solan since the past 13 days.

SP Prem Thakur, while confirming the matter, said since the preliminary probe being conducted by the DSP (headquarters) had proved that Rakesh had willfully absented himself from duty without giving any intimation to the department, it was an act of dereliction of duty and he had been suspended for the same today.

The ASI, who was among 30 other policemen guarding the outer periphery of EVMs at the Municipal Committee Hall here, had been missing from his duty since November 26.

His absence was detected during a checking by senior police officials on December 9.