Assam Polls: After 'EVMs Waylaid' Re-Polling Declared at No. 149- Indira M.V. School of LAC 1 Ratabari

GUWAHATI: The Election Commission of Assam has decided to re-polling in No. 149- Indira M.V. School of LAC 1 Ratabari (SC) in Assam after EMVs were found 'waylaid' at the end of the second phase of Assam polls held on April 1.

According to reports, a video has surfaced alleging that EVMs were being transported in the car of a BJP MLA.

The video surfaced barely a few hours after the second phase of the Assam assembly elections ended on Thursday.

The EVMs were being transported in a car belonging to incumbent Patharkandi MLA Krishnendu Paul.

In the video, EVMs can be seen inside a white coloured jeep with the registration number AS 10B 0022. In the video, people can be heard saying that the jeep belongs to Krishnendu Paul.

Several senior Congress leaders including party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra MPs Pradyut Bordoloi and Gaurav Gogoi, party's in-charge for Assam Jitendra Singh have shared the video on Twitter.

Meanwhile, the election commission responding to the allegation in a press release stated that -

1. The polling party of No. 149- Indira M.V. School of LAC 1 Ratabari(SC) met with an unfortunate incident on 01 April 2021. The polling party comprised of a Presiding Officer and three polling personnel. They were accompanied by the police personnel comprising of a constable and a home guard.

2. The Polling party after completion of polls at 1800 Hrs. was returning in a convoy escorted by an armed escort led by the Police Sector Officer ABSI Luhit Gohain. The weather on the 01st of April was inclement and was raining heavily in the later hours of the day leading to the roads being muddy.

3. NH8 is the only artery road leading into Karimganj from remote areas of the district. Since it was poll day and poll closes at 1800 hrs, about 1300 vehicles were returning on the single highway, as all polling parties return to Karimganj from 1800 Hrs. onwards. Combined with the inclement weather, this had led to unprecedented traffic congestion on the highway.

4. As the above-mentioned polling party was approaching Nilam Bazaar, the vehicle which had been allotted by the transport cell of election branch, DC office, to the party carrying the polling party broke down at about 2100 hrs on 01 April 2021. Due to the traffic congestion and the prevailing weather condition, the party became detached from its convoy. The party alighted from the vehicle and called the Sector Officer Sri Ajoy Sutradhar on his mobile and informed him. While the sector officer was arranging for an alternate vehicle, the polling party decided to arrange a vehicle of its own so as to reach the Material Receipt Centre faster since they were in the custody of polled EVMs.

5. 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 who 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 Sri 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.

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.

On examination, the polled EVM comprising of 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 first polling officer was missing until the wee hours of the morning of 02 April 2021 as he was hiding in the undergrowth nearby and a search operation was being conducted all night. This delayed the transmission of this report by a few hours.

In this regard, the Presiding Officer was issued a show-cause notice for violation of the transport protocol. Thereafter, the PO & 3 other officials have been placed under suspension. Although the seals of the EVM were found intact, it has nevertheless been decided to do a re-poll at No. 149- Indira M.V. School of LAC 1 Ratabari (SC) as an added precaution. A report has also been sought from the Special Observer. 

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