HAILAKANDI, March 17 - To dispel doubts over security and reliability of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verified Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs), the district administration and election officials here said that necessary security checks are being done at all levels to ensure free and fair general elections slated for April 18.
Hailakandi, Algapur and Katlicherra LACs fall under HP 1 Karimganj SC (reserved) constituency.
The security system also involves a two-stage randomisation process in which machines will be randomly selected before reaching a polling station to ensure that the machines are not pre-programmed to favour a particular candidate. The first stage of randomisation of the machines took place at the district level here on Sunday in the presence of representatives of political parties such as the INC, BJP, AGP, AIUDF, NCP, CPI and CPM.
Deputy Commissioner-cum- Returning Officer Keerthi Jalli assured the representatives of political parties that necessary arrangements will be put in place for ensuring a level playing field and conducting free, fair and transparent elections in the district.
The CEO of Zilla Parishad NKSK Singha, Election Officer Rahul Doley, SDO (Sadar) Prodip Timung and other officials were also present.
The second round of checking and randomisation will take place at the constituency level where machines are randomly selected on the basis of a computer programme to be sent to a polling booth.
Officials said that this will help establish credibility of the poll process.
On the other hand, flying squad team of MCC Cell, Hailakandi is doing surprise checks on vehicles day and night to ensure nobody disturbs peace in the district.
Deputy Commissioner-cum- District Election Officer Keerthi Jalli has given strict instructions to the flying squad team about the Model Code of Conduct to ensure that there is no transfer of unaccounted money, bulk supply of alcohol, cash or arms till the polling process is over. �No transfer of unverifiable money, bulk supply of alcohol or cash or arms will be tolerated,� said Jalli.
She also sought the cooperation of the people, media, NGOs and different organisations for ensuring free and fair elections in the district on April 18.
The civil and police administrations are analysing the critical and hyper sensitive polling stations with DC Jalli and SP Mohneesh Mishra personally supervising them at ground zero.
�The district heads are interacting with the local people and intelligence inputs to get the real feedback on the basis of which security forces will be judiciously deployed,� said an officer on condition of anonymity.
