Re-polling underway at four polling stations of Assam

GUWAHATI: Fresh polling is underway at four polling stations of Assam on Tuesday where voting conducted during the second phase of the state Assembly elections on April 1 was declared void by the Election Commission of India (ECI) following anomalies, including EVM-related discrepancies.

The booths where repolling has been ordered are 107A-Khothlir LP School and 107-Mualdam LP School polling stations under Haflong legislative constituency in Dima Hasao district; 149-Indira MV School (right) under Ratabari constituency in Karimganj district and 463-Madhya Dhanehari LP School under Sonai constituency in Cachar district.

The ECI had recently ordered fresh polls at the polling stations to be held from 7 am to 6 pm in accordance with the instructions of the apex poll body.

Strict COVID-19 protocol is being enforced at the polling centres due to the surge in virus cases and detection of several new strands of the virus which has triggered a fresh set of concerns.

Voters have been asked to wear masks and gloves at the polling station as safety precautions against the virus.

ALSO READ: COVID-19 UK Strain discovered in Assam; here’s what you should know

Five polling officials were suspended after it was found during scrutiny that the presiding officer and the polling officers of 107-A Khothlir L.P. School allowed 181 persons to cast their votes against a total of 90 voters at the polling station.

The presiding and first polling officer in their statements admitted that they had allowed the voters registered at the main polling station at 107-Mouldam LP School to cast their votes at the auxiliary polling station.

At the 149-Indira MV School in Ratabari, an electronic voting machine (EVM) was detected in a car (unauthorized vehicle) belonging to the wife of a BJP candidate from the Patharkandi constituency in Barak Valley.

Re-polling has also been ordered at the 463-Madhya Dhanehori LP School polling booth where at least three persons were injured in an incident of firing, reportedly by five police personnel attached to the state Assembly deputy speaker and BJP candidate Aminul Haque Laskar.

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