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MUMBAI: A demo EVM was stolen from a strongroom in Pune’s Saswad on Monday morning, leading to the Election Commission writing to state chief secretary Nitin Kareer directing the suspension of three sub-district officials. Two 21-year-old men were arrested on Wednesday and the EVM recovered.
Although it was a demo EVM, the theft has raised concerns about security of voting machines ahead of Lok Sabha polls. While officials emphasised that the EVM was meant for training and awareness purposes, state chief electoral officer Shrikant Deshpande said, “This is a serious matter and EC has taken strong note of it.”
Although it was a demo EVM, the theft has raised concerns about security of voting machines ahead of Lok Sabha polls. While officials emphasised that the EVM was meant for training and awareness purposes, state chief electoral officer Shrikant Deshpande said, “This is a serious matter and EC has taken strong note of it.”
The two arrested suspects — Shivaji Bandgar and Ajinkya Salunke — have confessed to the crime. A third suspect seen in the CCTV footage is yet to be apprehended.
Police said the three men entered the office mistaking it for an old Wada and stole the EVM thinking it was a briefcase. Not knowing what to do with it, they dumped it. The EVM was found intact from a shed in a farm belonging to Bandgar. The two were produced before a court, which ordered their remand till Jan 12. “Bandgar is a criminal with cases of attempt to murder, molestation and rioting, while Salunke does not have any criminal antecedents,” SP Pankaj Deshmukh said.
(With additional inputs from Gitesh Shelke in Pune)
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