Strong rooms under three-layer security setup

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The EVMs (Electronic Voting Machines) and VVPATs (Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail) have been kept in 126 strong rooms against as many LACs (Legislative Assembly Constituencies) in the State.

The EVMs and VVPATs will be taken to the counting halls only on May 2, 2021 when votes will be counted. The counting will begin from 8 am on that day.

Talking to The Sentinel, State CEO (Chief Electoral Officer) Nitin Khade said, "For the safety of the EVMs and VVPATs, the guidelines of the (ECI) Election Commission of India are being strictly followed."

According to sources in the State Election department, all necessary arrangements have been made with proper CCTV coverage. Political representatives are allowed to remain present at a certain distance to keep vigil on the strong rooms round the clock, sources said. Each of the strong rooms has a three-layer security arrangement.

Kamrup (M) District Election Officer Biswajit Pegu said, "There're four strong rooms against as many LACs in Kamrup (M) district. Around each of the four strong rooms, there's a three-layer security bandobast. The inner-most layer immediately outside the strong room is manned by central police forces, the middle layer by State armed police forces and the outer-most layer by State police personnel.

"Both inside and outside of each strong room has adequate number of CCTV cameras whose live feeds can be watched on the screen by party representatives. The entire process of sealing strong rooms was videographed."

A gazette officer and a police officer each are on duty to monitor the security setup of each of the strong rooms round the clock.

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