EVM tampering at Kailashahar, accused arrested

After passing of 4 days of assembly elections, the Kailashahar police have on Monday arrested one Mainul Hoque of Srinathpur village, accused in tempering of EVM at the 26 booth of 53-Kailasahahar assembly constituency by pasting black tube on the symbol of Congress candidate Birajit Sinha.

On the assembly election day (February 16) at the 26-booth of 53-Kailashahar assembly constituency located Srinathpur Gram Panchayat of the constituency, Congress candidate and his election agent alleged that a black tube has been pasted at the EVM. Later, the polling process was stopped after interference of the respective Returning Officer (RO) and resumed the voting process by removing the black tube form EVM.

Congress candidate have also lodged their complaint and demanded for re-poll, but the Election Commission of India (ECI) after reviewing the polling process ruled-out the demand of Congress.

While, based on the webcasting recording, the poll officials have identified the accused youth, who was involved in the tempering of EVM and the Presiding Officer of the 26-Srinathpur booth lodged a formal complaint at the Irani police station on Sunday.

Giving details SDPO(Kailashahar) Dhruba Nath said that based on the complaint of presiding officer  and circumstantial evidences, police started investigation and on Monday managed to arrest accused Mainul Hoque from Srinathpur village under section of 125 and 131 of IPC and 136 of the Representation of the People (RP) Act, 1951 and police has also forwarded him before a local court for further legal proceedings. Nath also said that police are investigating the incident and as per rules will act accordingly.