SRINAGAR: The District Election Authorities Bandipora have strongly refuted the false and baseless news published in a section of the media about alleged bogus voting at a polling station in the district during the first phase of Municipal Polls on Monday.
“In view of the news report, information was sought from concerned officers and accordingly the Micro-Observer of Polling Station No: 22 in Nathpora furnished a detailed report indicating that a total of 24 votes were polled at the specified polling station and credentials including valid identity card and name / photo in voter lists were duly verified before polling and details entered in Form-19A (Register of Voters),” a spokesman of the District Election Authority Bandipora said in a statement adding that the polling agents stationed at the polling booth also did not complain about any such incident.
Meanwhile, all the 22 voters registered in Form-19A were crossed checked and none of it was found to be bogus contrary to the claim made in the news report, it said.
The spokesman said that another report submitted by the Micro-Observer of Polling Station Kaloosa, Partly-E, has indicated that at 0810 Hrs there was an argument between polling staff and visiting voters who insisted in voting without verification and were refused to be allowed. “Polling staff did not allow any person to cast vote without carrying valid photo ID. During the argument an elderly lady was escorted by her companion to voting compartment apparently for guidance but the Presiding Officer did not release the ballot button in favor of that person, so the question of guidance does not arise,” it said adding that after detailed verification the action initiated against the Presiding Officer has also been rescinded based on the report of Micro-Observer and Sector Magistrate. The report of micro-observer indicate that no violation or deviation took place at polling station Kaloosa, it said.
The spokesman said that it is pertinent to mention that no complaint was received by any of the Micro-observer from any political party or candidate on poll day. Meanwhile, senior officers including the District Election Officer (Deputy Commissioner), Sr Superintendent of Police, Returning Officers, Sector/ Zonal Magistrates made frequent visits to polling stations which stand recorded in diaries and not a single complaint was made before any of the visiting officers, it said.
It said the contents of the news report are baseless, contrary to facts and imaginary. District Election Authorities have maintained complete database of all 3.38% votes polled and can be verified independently, it said. (PTK)
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