NEW DELHI: Three layers of security with one company of paramilitary personnel inside the strongroom, Delhi Police personnel stationed outside and polling agents of all parties constantly monitoring the security arrangements through a 24X7 live feed this is how the electronic voting machines (EVMs), which have the fate of699 candidates in fray sealed,are being guarded.
The polling day for the high-octane Delhi Assembly elections passed on peacefully on Wednesday, barring a few sporadic incidents of minor arguments and scuffles.
Delhi Chief Electoral Officer R Alice Vaz said no complaints were received from any candidates during scrutiny of all election-related documents which were found in proper order. As soon as the polling was over at 6 pm on Wednesday, the EVMs were shut down and sent back to the strongrooms the same day by the presiding officer.
While the entire Delhi waits for the results with a bated breath, the Election Commission and Delhi Policepersonnelare guarding round the clock the EVMs and VVPATs at 70 strongrooms across 19 locations in Delhi.
A senior Delhi Police officer said they had set up a dedicated team of personnel which is led by an additional DCP-level officer for maintaining the security of a strongroom. Further detailing the security apparatus, it was revealed that there will be a deployment of three-tier security round the clock, with the innermost perimeter guarded by the Central Armed Paramilitary Forces (CAPF) and the outermost perimeter by the Delhi Police.
“The sealed doors of the strongrooms and corridors are being monitored round the clock with the help of CCTV cameras,” a poll body official said.
The strongroom has a single entry or exit point with a double lock system on the door. Whenever the door of the strongroom is opened, as per the EC guidelines, it will be mandatorily videographed.
The official will maintain a logbook of visits of authorised officials like General Observers, District Election Officers and Deputy Commissioners of Police, which will be done under videography. Wherever a strongroom is located in any building of the city, there will be no entry of any vehicles, including the VIPs. The EC has also set up an operational control room adjacent to the strongrooms.
The official further informed that the agents or representatives of contesting candidates are allowed to closely monitor the security arrangements of these strongrooms round the clock through a CCTV feed.
“Proper arrangements for their comfortable stay are made at the strongroom locations, where CCTV feed are displayed on monitors,” the official said, adding that they were also granted periodic access to the inner perimeter in batches to observe, verify, and be assured of the security measures in place.