EVM Control Unit Damaged in Dhule Polling Booth Clash
Supporters of two political parties clashed at a polling booth in Dhule on Thursday afternoon. This dispute resulted in damage to the control unit of an Electronic Voting Machine. The incident occurred at 1 pm in Ward 18 of Dhule city.
Location and Immediate Response
The clash took place at the Mirchya Maruti Prathamik Vidya Mandir polling centre. According to election officer Nitin Kapadnis of Dhule Municipal Corporation, the control unit was broken during the altercation. However, the ballot unit remained safe and undamaged.
Election officials acted quickly to address the situation. They arranged for another EVM to replace the damaged unit immediately. This ensured that voting could continue without significant disruption at the polling centre.
Police Investigation and Allegations
SP Shirkant Dhivare confirmed that police have registered an FIR regarding the incident. The matter is now under official investigation. Authorities are looking into how the control unit came to be damaged during the political dispute.
Supporters of Shiv Sena have made specific allegations about the incident. They accuse BJP workers of creating a ruckus in the polling booth and breaking the control unit. These claims add a political dimension to what began as a local polling disturbance.
Security Concerns and Data Safety
The polling centre was not categorized as sensitive before this incident. Because of this classification, there was no webcasting at the location. This means no video footage exists to document exactly what transpired during the clash.
Despite the physical damage to the control unit, election officials have provided reassuring news about the voting data. They confirm that all data stored in the control unit's memory card remains safe and secure. This information has been preserved despite the equipment damage.
Ongoing Developments
The presiding officer at the polling centre reported that unidentified individuals forced their way into one of the booths. These people then dropped the control unit, causing the damage. Police investigation will focus on identifying those responsible for this breach of polling station security.
This incident highlights the tensions that can arise during election periods. It also raises questions about security measures at polling centres across the region. Authorities continue their investigation while political parties exchange accusations about responsibility for the damaged EVM equipment.
