Bhubaneswar: The fates of the Lok Sabha and Assembly constituency candidates will be decided on Tuesday after the counting of votes in the various centers of Odisha. While the Election Commission of India (ECI) is all set for the counting process from 8.00 am tomorrow, EVMs and VVPATs stored in 69 strongrooms across Odisha are kept under strict security.
A three-tier security system has been put in place around the strongrooms. In addition, the strongrooms are under CCTV surveillance. While 25 companies of CAPF have been deployed to guard the strongrooms, police teams are patrolling round-the-clock outside the strongrooms.
The EVMs have been kept under tight security in the strongroom at BJB College in Bhubaneswar. Both CAPF and State Armed Police are in charge of the strongroom.
The EVMs have been kept under strict security in Baripada where a three-tier security system is in place. In addition to the CAPF and the state police, the candidates and their supporters are keeping vigil outside the strongroom.
Similarly, strongrooms have been set up on the premises of Berhampur Government Women’s Polytechnic and Uma Charan Patnaik Engineering School.
Meanwhile, the ECI has emphasised maintaining the post-election law and order in the state. More than 70 CAPF companies will be deployed in Odisha till June 6. It was decided to retain 25 companies of CAPF to guard the strongrooms and counting centers in the state. Later, it was decided to deploy 70 additional companies of CAPF to maintain the law and order situation across Odisha in the post-election period.
