LUCKNOW: Hours after videos of alleged violation of rules of transporting and handling EVMs and ballot paper bundles went viral, at least three senior officers were removed by the Election Commission in Uttar Pradesh, while one FIR was lodged against a lekhpal on Wednesday.
In Varanasi, ADM (supply) Nalin Kant Singh was removed on Wednesday morning after EVMs for training sessions were being transported allegedly without following proper procedure on Tuesday evening.
Enraged Samajwadi Party supporters had allegedly resorted to stone pelting in which ADG Varanasi Ramkumar’s official car was damaged, and his driver Lalta Prasad was injured. Later, an FIR was lodged against 300 men at Lalpur/Pandeypur police station under 16 IPC sections including attempt of murder, loot and riot.
In Bareilly, returning officer (at the level of SDM) Parul Tarar was removed after the civic body’s dumping truck was caught by SP workers with a box carrying unused postal ballot papers and stationery.
In Sonbhadra, SDM Ramesh Kumar was removed after unused ballot papers were found in his official car.
In Sant Kabir Nagar, FIR has been ordered against a lekhpal after a video of him with two unused ballot papers went viral. The video showed the accused lekhpal walking towards a strong room with two ballot papers.
TOI tried to contact chief electoral officer, Uttar Pradesh, several times but no response was received.
Joint CEO Brahm Dev Ram Tiwari said, “We haven’t received any written communication, so can’t comment on the matter.”
The EC reiterated that rumours were being spread by some political workers about the EVMs.
“All the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) are sealed inside the strong room and secured in a three-tier security cordon of the central paramilitary forces. These machines are completely isolated and safe and have CCTV monitoring. These are being continuously (24x7) direct monitoring through CCTV coverage by the representatives of all political parties/candidates. The representatives of political parties were also informed about this by the District Election Officer/District Magistrate Varanasi,” read the ECI statement.
