Kolkata: The Election Commission has taken several steps to enhance the security of counting centres to prevent unauthorised entry on the day of vote counting for the West Bengal Assembly election on May 4.
To enter the counting centres on May 4, one must go through a three-stage identity verification process.
The Election Commission has announced strict measures for the security of electronic voting machines. A notification announced that the identity card will be verified in three stages. In the first and second stages, the identity card will be checked manually. In the third stage, QR code verification will be required.
In the last stage, the ‘green signal’ to enter the counting centre will be given only after scanning the QR code.
The Election Commission has said that this rule will be applicable to all returning officers, assistant returning officers, counting staff, candidates, and election agents.
District election officers and returning officers have been instructed to take necessary measures to implement this system. The Commission has also instructed the deployment of trained personnel at designated checkpoints to control entry to counting centres.
State Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Aggarwal said, “There have been complaints about the security of counting centres.” He added that he would visit various counting centres to check it himself; representatives are making inquiries, and, if necessary, security will be increased.
Incidentally, the strong rooms in each district are under the Commission’s strict watch. The election results will be announced on May 4.
Before that, the state’s strong rooms had been wrapped in a heavy security blanket. It has been learnt that the Election Commission has increased security at the strong rooms.
Electronic voting machines have already reached the strong rooms. Earlier, it was decided that 200 companies of the Central forces would be deployed in the strong rooms. But now, more Central forces are being deployed as part of enhanced security measures.
The polling percentage in the second phase of elections for 142 Assembly constituencies in West Bengal on April 29 has been recorded at 92.47 per cent till midnight, taking the overall average percentage across the two phases to a record high of 92.85 per cent.
(IANS)
