No violation found in safety of EVM strongrooms: Kozhikode Collector

Kozhikode (Kerala), May 2 (PTI) Kozhikode District Collector Snehil Kumar Singh on Saturday dismissed allegations that EVM strongrooms in the Koyilandy and Perambra Assembly constituencies were opened, saying no security breaches were found.

Last month, UDF leaders in the district had lodged a complaint with the Election Commission alleging that the strongroom where EVMs of the Perambra constituency were stored had been opened.

Though the Returning Officer had clarified that in the Perambra case, only a room outside the sealed strongroom area, where no EVMs or postal ballots were kept, had been opened, political parties had demanded a probe into the incident.

Similarly, the allegation was raised by Congress leaders that officials reached close

to the perimeter of the strong room where EVMs of Koyilandy constituency were stored.

Addressing a press conference on Saturday, Singh said the inquiry found no violation.

“We have received a letter from the Chief Electoral Officer’s office stating that there was no violation in the incidents. It was found that the inner perimeter of the strongrooms was not breached,” he said.

Singh also said prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) would be imposed across the district on vote counting day on May 4 to restrict gatherings.

He said police would monitor large-scale celebrations, while the district administration would regulate the use of firecrackers. PTI TBA TBA ROH