The BJP on Friday demanded a judicial inquiry into the alleged EVM manipulation by the district administration and a pitched battle that followed between the police and political workers, even as the district administration lodged an FIR against JVM candidate Amitabh Chaudhary and six others for creating hurdles in discharging official duty.
“Three complaints have been lodged against the JVM candidate and six others. The first case has been filed by Angara Block Development Officer (BDO) Deepmala, second by the Tatisilwai officer in charge BN Singh and the third one has been filed by the BDO’s driver Ganga Munda,” said officer in charge of Sadar police station.
The names of the other persons include Amit Mahto, Santosh Kumar, Monu, Debashish Bhattacharya, Nandu and Chandradev Singh--all JVM workers. The brawl broke out after the vehicle of Angara Block Development Officer Deepmala was allegedly intercepted and attacked by some people, apprehending replacement of EVMs with the other ones being carried out by her.
Politicians and mediamen were allegedly beaten up by Ranchi police after lok Sabha polls on Thursday after the candidates and their supporters complained of tampering with EVMs in Khelgaon area. The political parties after getting information informed the district administration.BJP candidate Ram Tahal Chaudhary, JVM nominee Amitabh Chaudhary and TMC candidate Bandhu Tirkey reached the spot alongwith party supporters who were allegedly beaten up by the police on the behest of the senior police officials.
The JVM, condemning lathi-charge, has demanded countermanding of elections in Ranchi. “We condemn the incident of lathi-charge by police and demand that the Thursday’s election in Ranchi should be countermanded,” said JVM general secretary Rajiv Ranjan.Amitabh Chaudhary also raised questions on Deepmala being sent on the spot to look into the matter. “Why only Deepmala when there were several other officers who might be present nearer to the spot on the day of elections. Deepmala has said in her report that she was near Women’s college when she was called up by the DC to look into the matter,” said Chaudhary.
The BJP also alleged the administration of favoring a particular candidate during the elections.“We will write to the Election Commission for judicial inquiry into the matter,” said BJP candidate from Ranchi Ram Tahal Chaudhary. “The DC has been conspiring against us since the day he has taken over the chair who deliberately removed the names of
thousands of our voters from the voters list,” said Ranchi MlA CP Singh.The Election Commission, on the other hand, denied any sort of irregularity, describing the whole incident an outcome of a misunderstanding which led to clash between the police and the workers of some political parties.
“No irregularity has been found in the matter as there were three replaced and six unused EVMs in the vehicle. It was just a misunderstanding which led to attack on the vehicle by some people,” said Chief Electoral Officer PK Jajoria.According to Jajoria, six EVM are given to each Zonal Magistrates for replacement in case any EVM is found malfunctioning during the elections. Election Commission has called for video footage on the basis of which action will be taken after investigations.
The administration was also in a fix over the whole episode and seen giving explanation over the alleged lathi-charge on journalists.“The police was compelled to lathicharge as the workers of a particular political party, who were also drunk, attacked an officer. When the situation went out of control, police had to lathicharge to maintain law and order,” said SSP Prabhat Kumar.