A senior Congress cadre died at EVM Strong Room late on Saturday while he was authorized by the party to stay there round the clock to allegedly deter any attempt by the ruling BJP to hack EVMs at Jashpur, police said.
The 30-year-old deceased Pankaj Tirkey was a prominent local Congress face and suffered brain haemorrhage. He was cremated on Sunday at his native village Kaliba in presence of large gathering of local Congress workers.
Report said that Congress candidate from Jashpur U D Minj had instructed him to stay just outside the EVM Strong Room till December 11, the scheduled date of counting of votes.
U D Minj and other Congress leaders alleged that district administration had failed to provide adequate arrangement for Tirkey to stay ouside the Strong Room in chilly nights.
They further alleged that there was no drinking water arrangements made for him. The voting for state’s 90 seats was held in two phases on November 12 and 20. Reports say that Congress candidate in Jashpur is all set to register easy win this time.