On 22 , opposition parties approached Election Commission on suspicious movement of EVM machines and demanded verification of VVPAT slips before the counting of votes, later the Election Commission on Tuesday rejected reports of alleged EVM tampering and said the machines used in the Lok Sabha elections are “absolutely safe” in strong rooms and under surveillance of Army.
The Election Commission also made a 24x7 EVM control room at its headquarters to monitor complaints relating to polled EVMs. The EC also makes clear that they will receive complaints related to storage issues, security, permissions to candidates to post their agents at strong rooms, CCTV monitoring, movement of EVMs, and any complaints during counting related to EVMs.
Hinting to video clips going viral and doing the rounds on social media are claiming that EVMs were being changed in strong rooms in UP and Bihar , the Commission said it “would like to emphatically and unambiguously clarify that all such reports and allegations are absolutely false, and factually incorrect. The visuals seen viral on media do not pertain to any EVMs used during the polls”.
“The aspersions in clips being used in media merely pertain to the storage or movement of Reserve unused EVMs. However any case of lapse even in handling of Reserve EVMs is thoroughly investigated and disciplinary action taken against the officers responsible,” they said.
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After the allegations of EVMs being transported in some parts of UP, Bihar, Punjab and Haryana emerged along with video clips, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav tweeted, “Visuals and claims of sudden movement of EVMs observed across north India! Why is it so? Who is transporting these EVMs & Why? What is purpose and objective of this exercise? In order to avoid any confusion & misconception, EC must issue a statement ASAP.”
The EC said after completion of elections, all polled EVMs and VVPATs are brought under security cover to the appointed strongrooms, which is sealed with double locks, in the presence of the candidates and EC observers. “The entire process is covered under videography. Continuous CCTV coverage is done till completion of counting. Each strongroom is guarded with round-the-clock security by Central Armed Police Forces. Further, the candidates or their designated agents remain present at the strongroom for 24X7 vigil at all times,” an official statement of EC.