He has issued strict instructions to the Kharar Assistant Returning Officer that defacement of public and private property by any political party should not be allowed and asked him to be vigilant. Meanwhile, Ropar District Magistrate-cum-Returning Officer, Kulbir Singh Sidhu, today told Newsline that investigations had begun into the defacement of public and private property and guilty persons would be booked under the Prevention of Defacement of Properties Act, 1997.

He maintained that posters on the compound wall of Kharar SDM's office were in violation of EC norms.

District police chief Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, when contacted, said a case would be registered only on the directions of the Returning Officer.