BETTIAH, Nov. 17 -- Areraj sub divisional magistrate (SDM) and returning officer Arun Kumar had ordered the registration of FIR against 17 poll personnel, a majority of them government school teachers, for their alleged absenteeism from election duty during the second phase of election in East Champaran district, officials said here on Sunday. SDM Kumar said these employees were deputed as polling officers at various polling stations but were found absent from election duty in Govindganj assembly constituency. "It's a gross negligence on their part. Therefore, the registration of FIR against them have been ordered," said Kumar. The development comes close on the heels of a residing officer and three polling officers of an election booth suspended for negligence after some VVPAT slips from the EVM were found discarded near Utkramit Madhya Vidalyay, Nimui, notified as polling station number 219 in Sugauli constituency, which went to the poll on November 11. "The presiding officer and three other polling officers were deputed after being given proper guidelines. Hence, booth's presiding officer, as well as the first, second, and third polling officers have been suspended," reads a letter undersigned by Saurabh Jorwal, district election officer-cum-district magistrate. The suspended employees include Prabhakar Kumar Singh, teacher, Higher Secondary School Kushahar (presiding officer), Shubham Kumar Bajpai, Higher Secondary School, Bhusaha, Sangrampur (first polling officer), Md. Ejaz Alam, teacher, Upgraded High School Gurmia Madhuban (second polling officer) and Parvez Alam, Teacher, Madrasa Nizamia Dilawarpur, Kalyanpur (third polling officer)....