In a significant disciplinary action, the Himachal Pradesh Police has suspended eight police personnel for serious negligence in securing Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in Bilaspur district. The suspension order was issued on Thursday after the officers were found absent from their designated duties.
The Security Lapse Discovery
The negligence came to light during a routine inspection conducted by Shiv Chaudhary, Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) of Bilaspur. While on patrol duty on Wednesday night, Chaudhary inspected two critical strong rooms where EVMs were stored under high security protocols.
The inspection revealed that eight policemen, including two head constables and six constables, who were assigned standby duty near the strong rooms, were completely absent from their posts. The security was being managed solely by five Home Guard Volunteers who were performing sentry duty at the time.
Immediate Disciplinary Action
Sandeep Dhawal, Superintendent of Police (SP), Bilaspur, took swift action following the discovery of the security breach. Speaking about the incident, Dhawal confirmed that all eight personnel have been placed under suspension and transferred to police lines.
"We took the lapse very seriously and immediately placed all eight personnel under suspension. They have been sent to the police lines, and a departmental inquiry has been initiated to investigate the matter thoroughly," stated SP Dhawal. The officer emphasized that security protocols for EVM storage cannot be compromised under any circumstances.
Political Significance of the EVMs
The EVMs stored at the two secure locations contained voting data from the Bilaspur and Shree Naina Devi Ji Assembly segments from the 2022 Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections. These particular constituencies witnessed victories by BJP candidates Trilok Jamwal and Randhir Sharma.
The preservation of these EVMs gained additional importance as the election results from these segments were legally challenged in the Himachal Pradesh High Court. The ongoing court proceedings necessitated the secure storage of the voting machines as potential evidence.
The strong rooms in question were located near the District Police Control Room and at Government Degree College in Bilaspur. Both locations were supposed to have round-the-clock security monitoring given the sensitive nature of the stored equipment.
Ongoing Investigation and Reporting
Police sources confirmed that a detailed report about the security lapse and subsequent disciplinary action has been forwarded to senior officers at the police headquarters in Shimla. The departmental inquiry will examine the circumstances that led to the absence of the eight personnel and determine if there were any procedural failures.
This incident highlights the critical importance of maintaining strict security protocols around electoral equipment, especially when election results are under judicial scrutiny. The prompt action by police authorities demonstrates their commitment to ensuring the integrity of electoral processes in the state.
