West Bengal Elections: EVM And VVPAT Machines Found At Residence Of TMC Leader; EC Suspends Sector Officer

In a shocking development, a reserve EVM and a VVPAT machine were found at the residence of a leader from Mamata Banerjee led Trinamool Congress (TMC) amid the ongoing Assembly elections in West Bengal, reports India Today.

The Election Commission has suspended a sector officer identified as Tapan Sarkar who had gone to the TMC leader Gautam Ghosh's place in Uluberia of Howrah district with the EVM and VVPAT machines and slept there overnight. Notably, the incident came to light after a ‘Sector 17’ election duty car was found parked outside the TMC leader’s house.

Calling it a gross violation of its instructions, EC said that charges will be framed against the Sarkar for major punishment. EC has also directed the suspension of Sector Police attached to Sarkar.

EC has also said that EVM and VVPAT machines have been taken out of stock and will not be used in the elections. Also, General Observer Neeraj Pawan has checked the intactness of all the seals on the EVMs, which are now stored in a separate room in the observer’s custody.