West Bengal: EVMs, VVPATs found at TMC leader’s house in Uluberia, EC suspends sector officer
"Tapan Sarkar, sector officer of Sector 17 in AC 177 Uluberia Uttar at Howrah district, went with Reserve EVM and slept at a relative’s house. This is a gross violation of EC’s instructions for which he has been suspended and charges will be framed for major punishment," the Election Commission said in a statement.
FollowAmid the ongoing Phase 3 polls of the West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 on Tuesday, electronic voting machines (EVMs) and VVPATs were found at a residence of a Trinamool Congress leader in Uluberia.
The Election Commission has said that it was a reserved EVM, which has been removed from the election process for the assembly elections. EC has also said that severe action will be taken against all those who are involved.
BJP candidate Chiran Bera claimed the EVMs were recovered from TMC leader Gautam Ghosh’s house located in Tulsiberia. He alleged the machines were brought in an election duty car. A 'Sector 17' election duty car was parked outside the TMC leader's house.
The sector officer caught red-handed by the villagers there, however, claimed that since it was very late in the night, the central forces had slept off and didn’t open the booth so they went to a relative’s house to sleep which happened to be of a TMC leader.
"Tapan Sarkar, sector officer of Sector 17 in AC 177 Uluberia Uttar at Howrah district, went with Reserve EVM and slept at a relative’s house. This is a gross violation of EC’s instructions for which he has been suspended and charges will be framed for major punishment," the Election Commission said in a statement.
It added that a sector police official attached to the officer has also been directed to be suspended.
"The said EVM and VVPAT have been taken out of the stock and shall not be used in the polls," the EC stated.
"General Observer Neeraj Pawan has checked the intactness of all seals. These EVMs have now been stored in a separate room in Observer's custody," the authority added.
Meanwhile, voting for the third phase of the West Bengal elections is underway for 31 constituencies. Polling began at 7 am amid tight security. The EC has imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC in all the constituencies, declaring them as 'sensitive'.
