An FIR has been lodged against two identified individuals and 50 others whose identities remain undisclosed for allegedly causing a disturbance when a vehicle carrying reserve Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) mistakenly arrived at the counting venue in Jaunpur district, Uttar Pradesh.
The incident unfolded on Saturday as Samajwadi Party (SP) workers disrupted proceedings upon the arrival of the EVM-laden DCM at the counting venue.
Authorities clarified that the vehicle had arrived at the wrong location due to an error in the duty of the responsible officer.
According to the police, the disruption has led to charges of obstructing government work.
The vehicle transporting the reserve EVMs arrived at the counting venue of Veer Bahadur Singh Purvanchal University following the conclusion of voting in the Jaunpur and Machhilishahr Lok Sabha constituencies on Saturday evening.
The district magistrate stated EVMs were supposed to go to the collectorate by private vehicle, but due to officer negligence, they reached the university counting venue instead.
SP workers halted the vehicle, alleging potential tampering with the EVMs.
SP candidate Babu Singh Kushwaha intervened, urging his party members to refrain from causing further disruption.
Circle Officer (CO) Sadar, Parmanand Kushwaha, stated that a case has been filed against councillor Jagdish Maurya, also known as Gappu, and Ramesh Maurya, along with 50 unidentified individuals in Saraikhwaja, for disturbing peace and obstructing government work, especially considering Section 144 had been enforced in the district.
Babu Singh Kushwaha accused the police of filing a baseless case under government pressure, demanding to escalate the matter to the Election Commission if the charges are not retracted.
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