EVMs secured, moved to strongrooms under 3-tier security

Madurai/Trichy: As voting got over on Thursday, electronic voting machines (EVM) and voter verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) machines were moved to dedicated strong rooms where they will be stored until vote counting day.In Madurai district, as many as 3,695 ballot and control units, along with 4,001 VVPAT machines were secured in strong rooms at five counting zones for the 10 constituencies. The vote counting centres are: TNAU (Agri College) for Melur and Madurai East constituencies, Anna University for Sholavandhan and Usilampatti constituencies, Thiagarajar College of Engineering for Madurai North and South constituencies, Madura College for Madurai Central and West constituencies, as well as Govt Arts College for Thiruparankundram and Thirumangalam constituencies.In Trichy district, 3,341 control units, 5,621 ballot units, and 3,619 VVPAT units allotted for the nine constituencies were moved to strong rooms at two counting centres throughout the night. The machines used in Manapparai, Srirangam, Tiruchirappalli (West), Tiruchirappalli (East), and Thiruverumbur are stored at Jamal Mohamed College in Trichy. Those used in Lalgudi, Mannachanallur, Musiri, and Thuraiyur (SC) constituencies are stored at Oasys Institute of Technology in Pulivalam. In Trichy counting centres, 32 surveillance cameras have been installed for each assembly constituency.Once stored in the strong rooms, EVM and VVPAT machines were closed and double-locked under the supervision of political representatives, with one key kept with the returning officer and the other with the assistant returning officer. Other entry points of the strong rooms, including windows, have been sealed so that no one has access inside. The entry points of the strong rooms have CCTV coverage round the clock and are constantly monitored. A log book is maintained by security personnel, with entries on the date, time, duration and names of anyone coming near the strong rooms.Apart from CCTV coverage, a three-tier security system is being employed to ensure security of the strong rooms and prevent any unauthorised entry. A 100-metre perimeter around the strong rooms has been demarcated as a pedestrian zone in the first tier. No person without a duly issued authority letter of ECI or photo ID card issued by the concerned DEO or a media pass would be allowed to cross this cordon. The second tier is the gate of the counting premises where frisking will be done to ensure prohibited items such as matchboxes and arms are not carried inside. The third and inner cordon is at the door of the strong room. Apart from city and district police, CRPF and ITBP have also been deployed for security.Meanwhile in Trichy, TVK members got into an argument with the authorities and police as machines from the polling station at Madhuram Higher Secondary School in Trichy East were not moved to the strong room till around 1am on Friday. Election officials denied allegations of any security breach and said the machines were moved smoothly on time. During the sealing process at Jamal Mohamed College, an altercation broke out between police and members of the press over taking photographs. Officials from the district administration later pacified them.