Asduring the three-phase elections in Assam on March 27, April 1 and April 6,several incidents, especially during the second phase, were reported from southernAssam, various quarters, including the principal opposition party Congress,have raised questions and doubts. They questioned the poll management and theprevailing law and order situation in the BJP ruled state.
TheCongress has alleged that the election authorities in Assam have been workingunder pressure from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.
Meanwhile,the election authorities and the district administrations had to suspend manypolling staff and security personnel for their lapses, besides institutingmagisterial probe into these incidents. However, the police, civil and electionofficials have refused to make any comment on the incidents that took placeduring the elections.
"Whateverincidents and developments took place, the appropriate authorities have takensuitable actions and submitted their reports to the Election Commission," asenior election official said on condition of anonymity.
AssamAssembly Deputy Speaker and BJP candidate Aminul Haque Laskar was quizzed twicewhile five police personnel attached to him were suspended after they openedfire at the public during the second phase of polling on April 1.
CacharDeputy Commissioner (DC) Keerthi Jalli has ordered a magisterial inquiry intothe incident. District Development Commissioner B.C. Das has been asked toconduct the probe and submit a report in this regard.
Laskar,who is contesting from the Sonai Assembly constituency as a BJP nominee, toldthe media that the security personnel opened fire to protect his life during aclash between the rival political parties. The opposition parties have demandedhis arrest.
TheCachar DC has ordered another magisterial inquiry into the incident of avehicle carrying unused Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) overturning on April 1.The EVM transporting vehicle was attacked by some miscreants. The DC has askedCachar's additional District Magistrate, Rukh Liangthang, to conduct the probeand submit a report.
Thepolice have arrested three persons for attacking the private car in which thepolling personnel were travelling along with the polled EVM after thecompletion of the second phase of polling on April 1.
TheDistrict Magistrate of neighbouring Karimganj has ordered a magisterial inquiryafter the police arrested three persons in connection with the EVM found in aBJP candidate's wife's vehicle on April 1, officials said.
TheElection Commission has suspended the presiding officer, three other pollingofficials and an armed escort official and ordered re-polling at PollingStation No 149 in Indira M.V. School under the Ratabari (SC) Assemblyconstituency after the EVM was found in a BJP candidate's wife's vehicle.
Inanother incident, at least six polling personnel were suspended in Assam's DimaHasao district after it was found that a booth with 90 valid voters registered181 votes during the second phase of polling on April 1.
Electionofficials said that repolling would be held at the auxiliary polling station --107-A Khothlir L.P. School -- under the Haflong Assembly constituency..
Inanother development, again in southern Assam, little over 500 Home Guardpersonnel of Assam government, including many women, were forced to return totheir homes without performing election duties in the second phase of pollingon April 1.
Theyalleged that due to the inhuman treatment and negligence of the Cachar districtauthorities, they were forced to return to their homes as the authoritieswanted to pay them very little amount, besides not arranging proper food,shelter, toilets and even water for them in the temporary camp (school).
AssamCongress President Ripun Bora on Wednesday alleged that the electionauthorities in Assam are been working under the pressure of the ruling BJP.
"TheEC must clarify why polled EVMs and unused EVMs were transported in mysteriouscircumstances. The Assam Assembly Deputy Speaker's security personnel openedfire on public while minister Pijush Hazarika threatened a journalist with direconsequences, but the EC has remained silent," Bora, a Rajya Sabha member,told the media in Guwahati. TheCongress leader also alleged that there is no security of women in Assam.
Demandingeffective supervision and monitoring of the strong rooms, where the polled EVMsare kept, Bora said that he has already written to the Election Commission toprovide CCTV links from the strong rooms across Assam to all the candidates inorder to maintain transparency.