The Election Commission (EC) on Friday suspended four officials and ordered repolling at a polling booth in Assam after a video surfaced on social media reportedly showing an EVM being found in a car belonging to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from Patharkadi constituency.
The incident allegedly happened after the second round of polling in Assam.
“The Presiding Officer was issued a show-cause notice for violation of the transport protocol. Thereafter, the PO and three other officials have been placed under suspension,” the EC said in an official statement.
It further stated, “On examination, the polled EVM comprising BU, CU, and VVPAT was found to be with its seal intact without any damage whatsoever. All the items have been deposited in the strong room.”
The statement also said that the EC has decided to do re-polling at number 149-Indira MV School of LAC 1 Ratabari (SC) as an added precaution despite the fact that the seals of the EVM were found intact. The Commission has also sought a report on the incident from the Special Observer.
In its factual report on the incident, the EC said that the polling party of No. 149- Indira M.V. School of LAC 1 Ratabari (SC) met with “an unfortunate incident” on April 1. The vehicle carrying the polling party broke down and due to the traffic congestion and the prevailing weather condition, the party “became detached from its convoy”, the report said.
“The party alighted from the vehicle and called the Sector Officer Ajoy Sutradhar on his mobile and informed him. While the sector officer was arranging for an alternate vehicle, polling party decided to arrange a vehicle of its own so as to reach the Material Receipt Centre faster since they were in custody of polled EVMs”, the report states.
“At about 2120 hrs, the polling party hailed a passing vehicle and boarded it along with their EVM and other things without checking the ownership of the vehicle bearing the number AS-10B-0022.As reported by the polling party, they moved towards Karimganj and as they reached Kanaishil in Karimganj at about 2200 hrs, they had to slow down in the traffic. As they slowed down, they were surrounded by a mob of about 50 people which started pelting stones at them. The mob also started abusing them and did not allow the vehicle to pass. When they asked the leader of the mob, he replied that it was the vehicle of Krishnendu Paul who is a contesting candidate of a neighbouring constituency (Patharkandi LAC-2) and he levelled allegations that the EVM was being taken to be tampered with”, the report adds.
The report further says that it was only then that they realised that something was amiss and alerted the Sector Officer.
“However, a larger crowd had gathered by then and they were attacked and held hostage by a mob along with the EVM in the vehicle at 2145 hrs alleging that the EVM was being taken to be tampered with. Immediately after receiving information about the incident, DEO Karimganj along with SP Karimganj rushed to the spot and reached there at 2220 hrs. Also in the mean while, the antecedents of the vehicle were ascertained and it was found to be was registered in the name of Madhumita Paul, Wife of contesting candidate, Patharkandi LAC No 2, Krishnendu Paul”, the EC report states.
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