Photo comparison exercise begins
ECI Observers detect numerousdiscrepancies
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, February 12, 2012:
Along with verification and comparison of the photographs taken during the time of casting their votes by the electorates with those in the Electoral Rolls of all the constituencies commencing from today, the Special Observers deputed by the Election Commission of India (ECI) for the purpose have detected a number of cases where the photographs of the electorates were not same.
Following numerous complaints from various political parties and candidates, the photo verification for the three districts of Chandel, Senapati and Kangpokpi was carried out from today at the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, Lamphelpat, in the presence of the three Special Observers.
According to a reliable source, during the verification, the three Special Observers came across numerous discrepancies where the photographs of the electorates taken during polling do not match with the photographs in the electorates in the Electoral Rolls.
For instance, a young woman's photograph cropped up when the name of an old man was entered for verification while the photograph of male electorate was displayed when the name of a female electorate was entered.
In addition to this, cases of poor quality of the photographs taken and a single person pressing the button of the EVM several times have come to light.
At the instruction of ECI, the three Special Observers namely Sunil Gupta, CEO of West Bengal; DK Pandey, IPS, CRPF, Ranchi and Gaurav Dwivedi,IAS, Director, Department of Information Technology, Ministry of Technology, New Delhi, arrived at Imphal this morning and the photo comparison of voters kick-started.
The task would continue till Monday.
In the photo comparison process held today, all the candidates concerned and the complainants were allowed to witness what was going on inside the photo comparison room.
The three Special Observers and the DEOs concerned compared the photographs of the electorates in three monitors, one each for Chandel, Senapati and Kangpokpi.
The source disclosed that altogether 76 complaints have been received by the Chief Electoral Officer, Manipur and the same were forwarded to the Election Commission of India.
Among these 76 complaints, 35 were referred back to the CEO for verification.
Among the complaints for re-polling reaching ECI; some of the complaints have been forwarded to the CEO, Manipur.
The forwarded complaints include cases related to polling stations of Chandel, Karong, Saikot, Churachandpur, Thanlon, Nungba, Tengnoupal, Kangpokpi, Tamei, Saikul in the hill districts and Andro, Wabgai and Keirao in the plains.
The source further revealed that the photo comparison process for the polling stations of Ukhrul, Tamenglong and Churachandpur district and for some polling stations in the constituencies of the valley districts would be carried out tomorrow.
The process is being targeted to be completed by tomorrow.
If the process is completed tomorrow itself, the Special Observers would leave Imphal along with the reports.
Otherwise, they may stay back till completion of the process.
Talking to mediapersons today, CEO, PC Lawmkunga said that every possible effort is being made to ensure transparency in the election process.
There are indeed some genuine cases among numerous complaints received by the office of CEO.
The Special Observers would take back and submit a report to the ECI after the entire photo verification process is completed.
Further necessary steps would be taken up after the ECI comes up with its decision.
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