Assam EVM row: Police arrest three, magisterial probe ordered

The Karimganj District Magistrate DM has ordered a magisterial inquiry and the police arrested three people in connection with the Electronic Voting Machine EVM found in a BJP candidate wifes vehicle on Thursday night officials said on SaturdayA district official said that the Karimganj DM Anbamuthan MP Repeat Anbamuthan MP has ordered the magisterial inquiry and entrusted Additional District Magistrate Rajeshan Terang to conduct the probe and submit the report within three daysMeanwhile the police also arrested three people for attacking the private car in which the polling personnel along the polled EVM were travelling after the completion of the second phase of polling on ThursdayThree more people are also detained for questioningTwo separate FIRs were also lodged with the police by the driver of the private car and polling personnelA delegation of Congress and its ally All India United Democratic Front AIUDF met the Karimganj District Superintendent of Police Mayank Kumar and demanded the release of six people immediatelyThe Election Commission on Friday suspended the presiding officer three other polling officials and an armed escort official and ordered repolling at the Polling Station no 149 in Indira MV School under Ratabari SC assembly constituency after an EVM was found in a BJP candidates wifes vehicle on Thursday nightAlthough the seals of the EVM were found intact it has nevertheless been decided to do a repoll at the Indira MV School polling station as an added precautionary measure the EC in a statement said on FridayThe statement had said that after the official car carrying the polled EVM machine to Karimganj broke down the officials boarded a passing private car which was subsequently surrounded by a mob of about 50 people who started pelting stones at themThe mob at Kanaishil under Karimganj district alleged that the EVM was being taken to be tampered with The private car was owned by the wife of BJP candidate of the neighbouring Patharkandi constituency Krishnendu PaulThe statement added that due to heavy rains on Thursday night the roads were muddy due to which the official car of the polling personnel broke down following which they boarded a private vehicle along with the EVM and other materials without checking the ownership of the carImmediately after receiving information about the incident the District Election Officer of Karimganj along with the district Superintendent of Police SP reached the spot at 1020 pm on Thursday nightDuring the course of stone pelting Karimganj SP Mayank Kumar sustained minor injuries on his collarbone and had to resort to firing in the air to disperse the mobThe first polling officer who was found missing in the commotion was rescued early on Friday morning from a nearby areaCongress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said in a tweet Every time there is an election video of private vehicles caught transporting EVMs show up Unsurprisingly they have the following things in common 1 The vehicles usually belong to BJP candidates or their associatesNearly 81 per cent of the 7344631 voters exercised their franchise in the second phase of polling in Assam on Thursday in the 39 constituenciesAround 80 per cent of 8109815 voters cast their votes on March 27 in the first phase of polling in 47 constituenciesOf the threephase elections to the 126member Assam Assembly the third and final phase of polling will be held in 40 seats on April 6 The results will be declared on May 2This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever