Three-tier security in place at counting centre in Erode

The strong rooms were sealed by Election O cer and Collector Raja Gopal Sunkara, and the security arrangement will remain in place until the day of counting on June 4

Athree-tier security cover has been put in place at the counting centre inside the Government College of Engineering in Chithode, where the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Veriƒable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines used in 1,688 booths during the Lok Sabha polls for the Erode Parliamentary constituency on Friday are stored.

After polling ended at 6 p.m., all the machines used in the Assembly constituencies of Kumarapalayam, Erode (East), Erode (West), Modakkurichi, Dharapuram and Kangayam were transported amid tight security to the counting centre and were received by election o”cials after veriƒcations. The process was completed on Saturday morning and all the EVMs and VVPATs were kept in separate strong rooms for each Assembly constituency.

The strong rooms were sealed by District Election O”cer and Collector Raja Gopal Sunkara in the presence of general observer Rajeev Ranjan Meena, Superintendent of Police G. Jawahar, District revenue O”cer S. Shantha Kumar, assistant returning o”cers, candidates and representatives of political parties in the morning.

During a media brieƒng,

Mr. Raja Gopal Sunkara conƒrmed a voter turnout of 70.54% in the constituency, highlighting the secure storage of all machines in the strong rooms. He emphasized the ongoing three-tier security arrangement, scheduled to remain in place until the day of counting on June 4. Additionally, 30 surveillance cameras were installed both inside and outside the strong rooms.

The ƒrst layer of security outside the strong rooms is provided by Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel, while Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) personnel and district police o”cers provide the second and third layers, respectively. Furthermore, a Tamil Nadu Special Police team, under the leadership of a Deputy Superintendent of Police, ensures round-theclock security at the center.

70.54% turnout

Erode witnessed a voter turnout of 70.54% on Friday. Voter turnout in each of the six Assembly constituencies were Kumarapalayam 73.94%, Erode (East) 66.05%, Erode (West) 65.73%, Modakkurichi 76.27%, Dharapuram 70.54% and Kangayam 71.63%. At the end of the poll on Friday, it was informed that voter turnout was 71.42%. After veriƒcation, the total turnout was revised.

M. GOVARTHAN CISF personnel outside the strong room where EVMs and VVPAT machines have been stored at the Government College of Engineering at Chithode in Erode on Saturday.