Blank shots fired in West Guwahati amid tensions over discovery of 'suspicious EVMs'

GUWAHATI: The situation remains tense in West Guwahati's Majli LP School after locals clashed with polling personnel after several EVMs were brought in under cover of night in a private vehicle.

After tensions flared up, security forces had to intervene and resorted to blank firing and threw smoke bombs.

Poll officials reportedly drew the wrath of Congress workers for carrying EVMs in their private vehicles to Guwahati without security. According to sources, the EVMs are suspected to be from Boko -- a neighbouring Constituency where the polls were also held today.

"Polling was going on peacefully. Around 6:30 pm, however, an officer brought in EVMs in a private vehicle. So our question is -- why were so many EVMs brought in under the cover of night? We want an investigation into the matter," a local said, adding that people are suspicious that the ruling dispensation is trying to 'fix' the result of the election through unfair means such as bussing in EVMs containing 'votes' for saffron party candidates.

Gauhati (West) constituency, it needs mention here, has witnessed a contest among the maximum number of candidates – 15, while the minimum number of candidates is in Boko, where there are only three.

To ensure free and fair polling, a total of 320 companies of security forces were deployed in the 16 districts going to the polls today.

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