Tight security measures for safety of EVMs: EC

Allaying the apprehensions that the EVMs could be tampered with to influence the poll outcome in favour of the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF), the Election authorities today said that tight security measures had been taken to ensure the safety and security of the machines.      

For the first time in the electoral history of Sikkim, CCTVs have been installed at the strongrooms storing the EVMs in all four districts to be manned by a technical team round-the-clock to monitor all activities there, the Joint Chief Electoral Officer (JTCEO) CP Dhakal told PTI here.      

Besides, a platoon of the central force - Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), comprising 30 personnel, had been deputed at all the strongrooms for security purposes, he said.      

The election authorities have also decided to allow the political parties to depute their members to keep a watch on the safety and security of the EVMs for personal satisfaction, Dhakal said.      

Former Chief Minister and Congress President Nar Bahadur Bhandari had yesterday in a memorandum to the Governor B P Singh had demanded measures for ensuring safety and security of the EVMs and expressed fear that the ruling SDF could resort to tampering with the machines to influence the final outcome of the polls in its favour.