Bhubaneswar: The first phase twin elections in Odisha concluded peacefully on may 13. After the poll ended, the electronic voting machines (EVMs) have ben stored in strong rooms amid tight security.
Addressing a press conference, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Nikunja Bihari Dhal said three-layer security has been put in place for the safety of the EVMs. Central armed forces have guarded the strong rooms in the first layer while State forces will be in the second layer. District police forces have also been deployed.
The strong rooms are under the constant watch of CCTV cameras. Separate control rooms have been set up to monitor the CCTV camera feeds, he added.
Arrangements have been made for the representatives of candidates to stay at outside the strong room till counting of votes.
They will be allowed to inspect security in the strongrooms with permission from concerned authorities.
The EVMs will remain in the strong room amid tight security till end of the elections in the State, the CEO informed.
Notably, polling in 28 Assembly segments under four Lok Sabha constituencies in Odisha completed on May 13. The second phase poll in the State will be held on May 20.
