Reserve EVM Machines Stolen And Destroyed; Polling Goes Smoothly In West Bengal

At around 6:40 AM today, the Election Commission of India's West Bengal Office reported that EVMs kept in reserve, as well as papers of the Sector Officer near Benimadhavpur FP school, at Kultali, which were meant for the polling booths in Jaynagar, were looted by a local mob. One CU, one BU , and 2 VVPAT machines were thrown inside a pond as well.

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Today morning at 6.40 am Reserve EVMs & papers of Sector Officer near Benimadhavpur FP school, at 129-Kultali AC of 19-Jaynagar (SC) PC has been looted by local mob and 1 CU, 1 BU , 2VVPAT machines have been thrown inside a pond.

— CEO West Bengal (@CEOWestBengal) June 1, 2024

Half an hour later came an update came from the account, saying that while the sector police were a little late to the scene, an FIR was lodged by the Sector Office and all the necessary actions were taken in order to make sure the perpetrators will be apprehended. In the meantime, the polling process is going well across all booths in the sector. The Sector Office was also provided with new papers and EVMs as reserves.

In other news, the Election Commission of India posted on their X account about how there was an early morning queue for voting outside of polling stations in West Bengal.

Amar vote, amar doyitvo ! #MyVoteMyDuty 🇮🇳🙏 #InkWaliSelfie #YouAreTheOne

Early morning women Voters queue outside of the polling stations in #WestBengal

📷 @CEOWestBengal#ChunavKaParv #DeshKaGarv #LokSabhaElections2024 #ECI #Phase7 pic.twitter.com/NnBnYZoXX2

— Election Commission of India (@ECISVEEP) June 1, 2024

The X account of the Chief Electoral Office of West Bengal also gave updates on how many people in West Bengal's polling booths were assisting elderly voters to exercise their rights at the different polling booths across the state.

Poll Volunteers providing assistance to an aged voter to exercise her voting right at model polling station of 123 Sagar AC under South 24 Parganas district, West Bengal.#ChunavKaParv #DeskKaGarv #Election2024 #IVote4Sure@ECISVEEP@SpokespersonECI@rajivkumarec@anuj_chandak pic.twitter.com/X6pGjaiJ5F

— CEO West Bengal (@CEOWestBengal) June 1, 2024

Security personnel providing assistance to a PwD voter to exercise his voting right at polling station of 111 Panihati AC 16 Dum Dum PC of North 24 Pgs of West Bengal.#ChunavKaParv #DeskKaGarv #Election2024 #IVote4Sure@ECISVEEP@SpokespersonECI@rajivkumarec@anuj_chandak pic.twitter.com/NZGr9XsTHc

— CEO West Bengal (@CEOWestBengal) June 1, 2024

Aged Elector being assisted by CAPF personnel to move towards the Polling Station of Falta FP School under South 24 Parganas district West Bengal.#ChunavKaParv #DeskKaGarv #Election2024 #IVote4Sure@ECISVEEP@SpokespersonECI@rajivkumarec@anuj_chandak pic.twitter.com/x30KasyFqL

— CEO West Bengal (@CEOWestBengal) June 1, 2024

The account also shared an image of the Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal, Dr. Aariz Aftab, giving his vote with the inked finger, encouraging everyone to come and give their vote,

CEO West Bengal after casting his vote at the polling station of Ballygunge AC under Kolkata South district West Bengal.#ChunavKaParv #DeskKaGarv #Election2024 #IVote4Sure @ECISVEEP@SpokespersonECI@rajivkumarec@anuj_chandak pic.twitter.com/fYSIb2ofz7

— CEO West Bengal (@CEOWestBengal) June 1, 2024