62 cases registered against under-age voters in Tripura

Agartala, Dec 24 (UNI) With the detection of a large number of under-age and fake voters, Tripura Election Department has registered 62 cases and has instructed all Sub-Divisional Magistrates of the state to scrutinise the credentials of fresh voters.

According to Chief Electoral Officer of Tripura Dr G S G Ayyanger, Election Commission of India (ECI) had asked the department to inquire into the allegations of fake voters following the objections of different political parties.

After the first round of check, the election officials found about 76 cases of illegal voters name in the electoral roll and altogether 62 FIRs were lodged against under-age voters for using forged school certificates to enroll their names in the photo electoral rolls in different parts of state.

Dr Ayyanger said in course of investigation, altogether 62 school certificates were found forged, which were produced by new voters to enroll their names in the rolls and specific complaints were registered with Dharmanagar, Bishalgarh, Airport, Jirania, Sidhai, East and West Agartala police stations against 62 under-age voters.

Meanwhile, police said that investigation was launched against the accused, but no arrests have been made so far.

Earlier, ECI officials had received complaints from both ruling and opposition parties that a sizeable number of under-age and fake voters were included in the photo electoral rolls on the basis of forged school certificates.

Acting on complaints, EC officials asked the state poll panel to take proper steps after conducting inquiry. Based on the instruction, state poll panel appointed observers carried out special checking of electoral rolls and have so far identified 62 under-age voters.

UNI