Prohibitory orders in Kendrapara after post-poll violence

Odisha Sun Times Bureau

Kendrapara/ Bhubaneswar, April 19:

Police Saturday clamped prohibitory orders in Kendrapada district in Odisha after post-poll violence in some parts in the district including the headquarter town, an official said.

The prohibitory order under section 144 of the CrPC, which was initially clamped in the district headquarters, has been extended to the entire district, said collector Nitin Bhanudas Jawale and added that the prohibitory order will remain in force till tomorrow.

The order prohibits the assembly of more than four people.

“It will remain in force for 24 hours or until the situation normalises,” he said.

Accusing the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) of rigging and tampering the electronic voting machines (EVM), the opposition parties Friday staged demonstrations and protests in the town.

A mob also assaulted Block Development Officer of Marsaghai S.K.Pati, after they found 28 pairs of electronic voting machines kept in a government vehicle parked near his residence.

The mob also ransacked his house. Police reached the site and rescued him and shifted him to a local hospital. He suffered injuries on his head and face.

Behera said a case has been registered against the mob.

A district election official said the EVMs were unused ones and kept for use when any EVM turned dysfunctional. The officer allegedly went to his home for some refreshment while he was on his way to deposit it to the authorities.

“We did not find any malafide intention behind it,” he told IANS.

Simultaneous elections for 21 Lok Sabha and 147 assembly seats in Odisha were held in two phases April 10 and April 17. The polling was held in the district of Kendrapada Thursday in the second and final phase.

The footage of a local television channel also showed how some people allegedly resorted to vote rigging in Aul area of the district.

The newly launched regional news channel Focus TV showed a man walking into the EVM enclosure along with a woman voter and helping her to press a specific button. The polling officials were seen watching it helplessly.

(with inputs from IANS )