During the protest by opposition parties over allegations of EVMs tampering in Jind bypoll, Haryana Police and paramilitary forces used canes to disperse protestors outside the counting centre at Jind town on Thursday.
The multi-purpose hall of Arjun Stadium at Jind was made the counting centre.
The security forces restored to lathicharge to disperse workers from opposition parties after they created a ruckus outside the, complaining about the electronic voting machines.
The counting process was also halted briefly during the seventh round when polling agents from of Loktantra Suraksha Party (LSP) and the Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) alleged that there was a “mismatch” in serial numbers of two EVMs.
The ruling BJP was leading by over 9400 votes after seven rounds of counting.
The ruling BJP won the high-stakes Jind bypoll with its candidate Krishan Middha defeating his nearest rival, JJP’s Digvijay Singh Chautala, by 12935 votes.
Jind Deputy Commissioner-cum-Returning Officer Amit Khatri rejected the allegation of tampering with EVMs.
He said that it was a “clerical issue”.
On protests outside the counting centre, Jind’s Superintendent of Police Ashwin Shenvi said the police resorted to a mild cane- charge to disperse the protesters and maintain law and order.
As per the reports, the serial numbers of two EVMs did not match with the list and this was objected by the candidates of opposition parties inside the counting centre.
As the news reached the activists of various political parties, the protest was held outside the counting centre.
Commenting on the issue, JJP’s Digvijay Chautala said, “There were several faults detected in EVMs. We will take up that issue in the internal party meeting first and then it will be briefed before media.”
Congress’ Randeep Singh Surjewala said that there were some issues related to EVMs. The serial number of two EVM machines did not match with the list signed by officials and we registered objections against this.
On the entire controversy, the Chief Minister Manohar Lal said that the Election Commission will look into this.
He also took a jibe at the opposition parties over their allegations of EVM tampering saying that the opposition is disappointed with the defeat.