VVPAT slips found near govt school in Atmakur

Nellore: Even as controversy over the efficiency and EVMs is increasing with each passing second and AP CM Chandra Babu Naidu approaching the Election Commission in Delhi to complain against the non-functioning of the EVMs, in a shocking incident several bunches of voter verifiable paper audit trial (VVPAT) slips were found strewn near the premises of the Government High School at Atmakur in Nellore district.

Students of the school after noticing the slips, showed them to their teachers who informed the media. Revenue officials rushed to the school which was used as an intermediate strong room for the 115 Atmakur assembly constituency. What is shocking is even the broken seal of ballot units used at the polling station no 97 was also found lying on the ground. Revenue officials after examining the slips, set fire to the slips. Later S. Chinna Ramudu, RDO and returning Officer of Atmakur said the slips were generated when the random tests of the electronic voting machines were conducted ahead of the actual polls.

Nellore Collector and returning officer R.Muthyala Raju examined the slips in Atmakur. CEO Gopalakrishna Dwivedi said ‘ The EVMs were sent to polling stations only after testing. Some official threw out the VVPAT slips due to negligence” and directed the District Collector to book a criminal case against the officials and arrest them.