EVM vandalising in Odisha: Two held, BJP MLA candidate at large

Puri: Police have arrested two persons for their alleged involvement in vandalising EVM at a polling booth in Odisha’s Puri district.

The arrested have been identified as Manas Samantaray (32) of Khordha and Akshaya Kumar Biswal (34) of Kanas. Both are supporters of BJP’s Satyabadi MLA candidate Om Prakash Mishra.

On the other hand, Mishra was absconding, till last reports came in. As many as three police teams raided his residence at Hansapal in Bhubaneswar yesterday, but returned empty-handed.

Concerned presiding officer Shivaram Mohapatra had lodged a police complaint against Mishra and his supporters, following which a case was registered against them.

As per the complaint, Mishra and his supporters barged into booth no. 78 at Birakishorepur village under Kanas block of the district on April 23 and vandalised the EVM. They also tore important documents related to the polling process.

Furthermore, the MLA candidate took out a gun and attempted firing. However, he dropped the weapon and fled the spot after voters protested the act unitedly, the presiding officer said in his complaint.