Counterfoils of ballot papers cast doubt over fair poll

Darbhanga, Jun 09 (UNI) Counterfoils of ballot papers, found abandoned outside Baheri block office in Darbhanga district, have cast doubts over the claim of local administration of conducting fair polling in the Panchayat elections.

District Magistrate Upendra Sharma said he had taken the issue seriously and ordered for a thorough probe into the entire episode.

He said counterfoils found outside the Baheri block appeared original adding it should have been properly accounted and subitted to authorities designated for the purpose after being authenticated by the concerned presiding officer.

Block Election Officer of Baheri, Sanjay Kumar Sinha had been asked to conduct the enquiry, Mr Sharma added.

Meanwhile, Mr Sinha said signatures and thumb mpression of the voters were also clearly visible on the conterfoils. It would be tallied with the siganatures on the papers which were kept in the strong rooms, he added.

He said the process of the verification of the signatures would be conducted after the counting.

UNI XC/DH SJC AB 1637