Skip to content Skip to navigation

Alleged Disappearance of VVPAT Machine Sparks Concerns Ahead of 2024 Lok Sabha Polls in the state

By Shajid Khan |

Udalguri: With the 2024 Lok Sabha elections looming, Assam finds itself embroiled in a controversy following the alleged disappearance of a Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machine in Bhergaon of Darrang-Udalguri Lok Sabha seat.

The incident, which has raised questions about the efficacy of security measures implemented by election officials, comes just ahead of the first phase of polling scheduled for April 19. Assam is set to witness voting in three phases for a total of 14 Lok Sabha seats.

According to reports, during the segregation of machines assembly segment wise after the initial randomization process, one VVPAT machine bearing the unique ID EVTEB96784 was discovered to be missing. This discovery prompted the Chief Electoral Officer of Assam to initiate a preliminary inquiry, with the Joint Chief Electoral Officer tasked with conducting investigations.

Despite assurances of stringent security measures, including double locks on the strong room housing the machines, 24x7 CCTV coverage, and armed security, concerns persist regarding the apparent lapse in protocol leading to the disappearance.

In response to the allegations, the Chief Electoral Officer of Assam stated, "Due to stringent storage and security protocol with the participation of the political parties at every stage, there is no question of any missing unit. The missing VVPAT may have been inadvertently shifted to ECIL factory along with FLC non-functional units shifted after FLC completion."

Assurances were made that the matter has been taken up with the Electronic Corporation of India Limited (ECIL), which supplied the election equipment, including ballot units and VVPAT machines.

Amidst the controversy, the Chief Electoral Officer reiterated that strict action would be taken against any dereliction of duty found on the part of concerned district officials.

As the investigation unfolds, the incident casts a shadow over the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, particularly in the Darrang-Udalguri parliamentary seat where elections are scheduled for April 26, coinciding with polling in Diphu, Karimganj, Silchar, and Nagaon Lok Sabha seats under the second phase.

Add new comment

Random Stories

Polling officials carrying ballot boxes ahead of the 3rd phase of the Assembly polls, at Guwahati on 05-04-21.pix by UB PHOTOS

Votes, notes or chants...

5 Apr 2021 - 5:39pm | Samhita Barooah
Elections have become the T-20 matches these days. Everyone is busy with balancing equations with religious, class, regional, ethnic, traditional lineages. Today our household voting practice started...

Newsmen's support to Burmese cause

5 Oct 2007 - 2:02am | editor
The Journalists' Forum, Assam on Thursday urged the Government of India to create diplomatic pressure on the Burmese junta to refrain from repressive measures against those carrying on the...

Mild quake shakes Nagaland

17 Aug 2017 - 2:20pm | AT News Guwahati
A 4.4 magnitude earthquake jolted Nagaland on Thursday striking panic button for many people in the north eastern hills state.  The earthquake, which originated in Zuhenboto district...

Rhino poaching in Kaziranga

19 Mar 2014 - 3:55pm | AT News
Despite stepped up vigil rhino poachers continue to strike in Kaziranga.Poachers have in this national park killed yet another rhino on Wednesday. The incident took place at Kohora range of the world...

Other Contents by Author

Brothers lynched by irate villagers in Baksa district of Assam

BAKSA: In a hair raising incident, two brothers were allegedly lynched by a mob of irate villagers in the victims residence in Athiabari village near Simaluguri in Lower Assam’s Baksa district 120 kms of Guwahati at about 8 am on Wednesday, April 22. Police suspect that the vicious assault have occurred out of 'village enmity ' as the villagers were fed up of the notoriety of the victims who were history sheeter against whom there were registered cases of dacoity, extortion and were recently released from jail on bail couple of days back owing to the Supreme Court directive to decongest prisons in wake of the Corona virus pandemic. The victims identified as Biswajit Das (24) and...

ABSU and Pramila Rani Brahma welcomes NDFB Saoraigwra faction for peace talks

Amid the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) across Assam the reports of leaders and cadres of the banned insurgent group National Democratic Front of Bodoland-Saoraigwra (NDFB-S) coming back to India from Myanmar as part of the ongoing peace talks with the Government of India is being taken on a positive note by the  influential All Bodo Students Union (ABSU) who is apprehensive that if the group have come for peace talks it will bring peace to the trouble torn Bodoland Territorial Council  (BTC) region. Talking to media persons at Bodofa House Bagansali in Kokrajhar of Lower Assam,General Secretary of ABSU, Lawrence Islary said that, "The  the initiative...

Kin of first martyr of Assam movement stands against bill

The family members of the first martyr of the Assam Movement,Khargeswar Talukdar in run up of the December 10 which is observed as Swahid Diwas (Martyrs’ Day) in Assam to commemorate the death anniversary of Khargeswar Talukdar, who was killed in police action on December 10, 1979 has shown  solidarity with the people of Assam and have lended its support the region-wide movement against the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Bill today. The brother of the martyr,Kameswar Talukdar who resides in his native village of Uzanbarbari of Lower Assam's Barpeta district said, “Our family vehemently oppose the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Bill and we appeal to the Centre and State...

Sri Guru Nanak Dev celebrated with religious fervour

UDALGURI,November 12: Along with the rest of the state Guru Nanak Jayanti was also celebrated with religious fervour here at Sri Guru Singh Sabha Guruduwara,Tangla in Udalguri district on Tuesday . Devotees from entire Darrang and Udalguri district including Border Security Force,Army jawans from various parts Darrang and Udalguri gathered to mark the celebration of the 550th birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak, the founder of the Sikh faith.The celebrations kick-started with a recitation of the Sikh religious book, the Guru Granth Sahib. . After completing the recitation of the Granth kirtan hymns were chanted .The prayers were led by granthi, Harpreet Singh. Nishan Sahib a Sikh...

Assam Congress protest over handing over of mid-day meal scheme to NGO's

GUWAHATI: The Assam Pradesh Youth Congress (APYC) and the NSUI on Tuesday staged a massive protest in front Assam Sarva Siksha Abhijan Mission office in  Guwahati opposing the government's move of providing midday meal among school children by NGO thereby depriving nearly 1.17 lakh mid-day meal workers of their jobs.The protesters alleging corruption in the midday meal scheme in the State vehemently opposed the move of handing over the project to the NGO's and demanded reinstation of the workers.“There has been a massive corruption going on in the name of providing midday meal among school children by NGOs,” said Suman Kalyan Bora,General Secretary of APYC. The protestors rented the...

MP Naba Sarania confident of victory

"The non-bodo populace of Bodoland Territorial Autonomous District are determined to oust the ruling Bodoland People's Front(BPF) to enforce their political rights." This was observed by Kokrajhar Member of Parliament,Naba Kumar Sarania here at Bordoloi Bhawan in Tangla town of Udalguri district on Tuesday. The parliamentarian attending an felicitation event hosted by Darrang and Udalguri chapter,Praktan ULFA Progitisil Mancha lashed out at pro-talk ULFA leaders who have amassed unaccounted wealth and immovable properties. Referring to the forthcoming Bodoland Territorial Council(BTC) council polls in 2020,Sarania reiterated that people will oust the BPF which have allegedly siphoned...

NDFB(S) linkman apprehended in Tangla

UDALGURI: Based on specific input the Tangla police apprehended a suspected NDFB (S) linkman from Tangla railway station on Tuesday evening. The linkman identified as Raju Boro,29 who is an inhabitant of Barodala village under Barabari P.S of Baksa district. Police also recovered a .22 pistol from his possession. While based on his confession,police also picked Medla Basumatari, 31 from Beltola area of Guwahati on Tuesday night. He is an inhabitant of Darugachuba under Dimakuchi P.S of Udalguri district. "We are interrogating the duo to ascertain their intention " said a police officer.

NGO pleas to companies to switch to paper

The Udalguri district chapter of Aranya Suraksha Samiti, Asom made a fervent appeal to all the plastic and polythene bags manufacturing companies to convert their manufacturing machines into paper and cloth bag producing machines for the betterment of our environment and this unique step would help the thousands of workers to remain glued in their professions without fears. The press communique of the nature organisation issued on Saturday by its secretary, Rewati Raman Sapkota further informed that this suggestion of machine conversion was already sent to the Ministry of Industries and the Prime Minister ,Narendra Modi so that it could take steps instantly relieving the thousands of...

Inter College Youth Festival Kicks off at GU

Gauhati University Inter College Youth Festival, 2019 kicked off at G.U. premises on 1st September with a 4 day long programme. The festival is being organised by Post Graduate Students’ Union under GU Sports’ Board.  The youth festival at GU is centrally organised after Zonal Festivals are held at four different zones. This year around 700 participants from 63 different colleges are participating in the festival after being selected at the zonal level.  In the inaugural programme, Chief Guest  Prof. Pratap Jyoti Handique, Vice Chancellor, G.U. hoisted the GU flag. Prof. Handique wished all the participants good luck and said that along with academics co-curricular...

Workshop on CBCS held

UDALGURI: A daylong workshop on “Choice Based Credit System” (CBCS) for Under graduate level was held at Tangla College recently. It was organized by Darrang-Udalguri Zone, Assam College Teachers Association (ACTA) and Tangla College Teachers’ Unit (TCTU). The event was graced as resource person by  Academic Secretary, ACTA, Dr. Anupam Dutta. The session was inaugurated by Principal, Tangla College,Dr. Prasen Daimari and was chaired by President, Darrang-Udalguri Zone, ACTA.,Dr.Kailash Goswami while President,TCTU Prof. Krishna Kanta Basumatary delivered the welcome address. Teachers from Tangla College, Udalguri College and first semester students of Tangla College (across disciplines...