|
Burdwan
, 10 May 04 :
A electronic voting machine (EVM) was shattered at
Dahuka, Jamuria. The 123 No. booth at Jamuria under
Asansol parliamentary constituency was attacked by some
unidentified miscreants this afternoon. The voting
machine was broken by them. After receiving the
complaint, a team of officials rushed to the area along
with engineers. The District Magistrate, Burdwan,
Subrata Gupta informed, "the engineers verified the
EVM & was satisfied that, the votes registered in it
are safe. At the permission of the candidates re-polling
started at the booth with a substitute voting machine.
The results of both the machine will be retrieved &
compiled for the vote counting."
The Trinamool Congress leader & candidate at
Asansol, Malay Ghatak said, "the ruling CPI(M) have
blocked our supporters from entering the booths. They
have captured most of the booths in Jamuria, Raniganj,
Hirapur & some booths of Asansol areas. The incident
of breaking a voting machine shows, how far they can go
in case of even a small resistance faced." He also
informed that, he have already lodged formal complaint
with the election commission regarding these incidents.
The CPI(M) however denied the allegations brought
forward by the Trinamool Congress. A CPI(M) leader in
the area commented, "TMC is sure about their
defeat, so they have started complaining on bogus
issues."
An EVM at Indu Gunomoni School, Alamganj, Burdwan,
malfunctioned after registering 411 polls in it. The
engineers visited & checked the machine. The polling
at the booth started on a 2nd machine after an hour.
Results of both the machines will be compiled at the
time of final counting. In another incident, the cover
of an EVM was burnt when a candle overturned on it. The
polling on the booth no. 2 at Tikorhat Madrasa, Burdwan
was conducted with candles during power-cut when the
incident occurred. A team of officials & observers
rushed to the booth & inspected the machine. The
polling continued on the same machine after the observed
cleared the performance of the EVM. |