Kamrup Administration gears up for ‘Counting Day’, Three-tier security arrangement at Strong Rooms

Guwahati: The Kamrup District Administration has made elaborate arrangements ahead of the counting day on May 23, 2019. Apart from the high profile security arrangements the district administration has taken up a slew of measures to ensure the electorate are not lured by the political parties to sell their votes.

Addressing a press conference at the DC office today, DC Pegu said, “No Cameras, video cameras or tripods and mobile phones will be allowed inside the perimeter of security at strong rooms on the date of counting of the votes. All the media persons will be guided by the respective media cell officials of the District Administration.”

DC Pegu also mentioned that the media persons will be only allowed to highlight the counting process of votes from an allotted slot to the press.

DC Biswajit Pegu also informed that there will be three-tier security arrangement has been put to guard the strong rooms where the polled EVMs are being kept.

An adequate number of fire extinguishers will be arranged in each strong room. The door will have a double-lock system; one key is with the District Election Officer (DEO) and another is with the Returning Officer (RO) concerned.

Additionally, the strong room is under 24X7 CCTV camera surveillance and the rooms would have uninterrupted electricity supply. A control room adjacent to the strong room will also be operative round-the-clock.

Each strong room is being monitored by a gazette officer along with a police officer and all visits are recorded.

“Counting will be held in 56 separate tables. A total of 20 VVPAT machines will be covered in the centre,” added DC Pegu.

No person will be allowed to enter the inner perimeter of security at strong rooms without adhering to the following protocol: Entry in the log-book maintained by the CAPF recording the date, time, duration, purpose, name and designation of the person.

The counting will be held in the Maniram Dewan Trade Centre in Guwahati.