Three-tier security arrangements have been made at the venue for counting votes at the Maharana Pratap Sports College, Raipur. Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) used for polling in 10 Vidhan Sabha constituencies under Tehri and Haridwar parliamentary constituencies in Dehradun district were transported under tight security and stored at strong rooms at the MPS College Raipur, the counting centre for these constituencies, said Dehradun Election Officer and Returning Officer for Tehri lok Sabha seat Dr BVRC Purushottam on Thursday. The three-tier security system comprises State police and paramilitary personnel. Closed circuit television cameras have been installed in front of each strong room and other parts of the counting centre and security personnel will monitor these same round-the-clock, he added.
Purushottam said that all the arrangements have been facilitated to ensure proper and fair counting of votes which will begin on May 16 from 8 am and trends will be available from the control room from 10 am onwards.The agents of the contesting candidates will maintain a vigil at the centre till the day of counting on May 16.
As per Election Commission of India’s guidelines, strong room would have a double lock system, with one key to be kept with strong room in-charge and the other key with an officer not below the rank of ADM. The strong room has been kept under 24X7 supervision of Central armed police force and CCTV coverage with a gazetted officer along with a police officer on duty round- the-clock for monitoring the security arrangements of the strong room. Uninterrupted power supply is being facilitated at the strong room till the EVMs are stored there. Most of the strong rooms were locked and sealed by District Election Officer, and Observer in the presence of candidates' agents with remaining polling teams expected to return from remote areas by Thursday night. The EVMs sealed after the polling were transported from the respective polling stations under police escort and the process went on till Thursday night. A total of 10 strong rooms have been made where EVMs were stored Assembly segment wise.
Dehradun Senior Superintendent of Police, Ajay Rautela said that elaborate security arrangement has been made at the counting centre. Eight companies of CISF, eight companies of Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC), eight sub inspectors and 35 constables have been deployed at the counting venue along with a gazetted officer and a circle officer.
In Haridwar district, Vimal Kumar Acharya was made EVM security arrangement nodal officer. A total of 11 strong rooms have been made at counting venue, Collectorate and Vikas Bhawan, Roshnabad. CAPF personnel along with PAC jawans and state police have been deployed for the security of the EVMs, informed Haridwar police.