Adil Lateef
Srinagar, Apr 16: At least 16 Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were snatched from poll staff and 17 others were damaged by protesters who ransacked polling booths on April 9 in Budgam district during by-polls in Srinagar Parliamentary constituency.
Official sources said that during attacks on polling booths at Pakharpora, Beerwah, Chrar-e-Shareef and Chadoora, 33 EVMs were targeted by the protesters, 16 of them are missing. Sources said that the police have started probe to recover the missing EVMs and have rounded up at least 13 suspects so far but they are clueless despite questioning them.
Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Shantmanu confirmed to Excelsior that 16 EVMs are missing and rest 17 have been damaged by rampaging mobs in Budgam. “We have already registered an FIR (First Information Report) into the case and the probe has been started by police,” he said, adding that damaging EVMs is a “serious offence”.
The CEO informed that though 17 machines damaged by the mobs are with them but they have been rendered useless. “Out of 17, 10 have been damaged in both control unit (which is managed by Returning Officer) and ballot unit (where voter presses the button). They cannot be used and are useless. The remaining seven have either damaged in control unit or ballot unit,” he said.
He said due to three factors the recent by-election has been “sad and disappointing”. “One is very low turnout (7.2 percent), second is loss of eight precious lives and the third is damaging and missing of EVMs. Damage and loss of EVMS is a huge setback to democracy and a big grief. The EVMs are symbol of election process and disrespecting these EVMs is akin to disrespecting our tri-colour,” Shantmanu said, adding: “we don’t know who the culprits are”.
According to poll officials, the mobs on April 9 forcibly made their way into polling stations and snatched the EVMs from the election staff on duty. They said that many of the EVMs were also set ablaze by the angry mobs.
Shantmanu said that due to ransacking of polling booths and snatching of EVMs, they conducted re-polling at 38 polling stations.
Official sources said that the identity of the “prime culprits” involved in snatching and damaging EVMs is yet to be ascertained by police but the raids on suspects are underway by police teams. “We are investigating the matter and we are hopeful that we will be able to zero in the culprits. We are utilizing all the resources available to nab these miscreants,” said a police officer posted in Budgam district.
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