Delhi polls: Strong rooms secured with two-tier security

New Delhi: Security has been beefed up at all the 14 centres across the city where electronic voting machines (EVMs) have been kept in strong rooms for counting of assembly poll votes will take place on 8 December. Delhi registered its highest voter turnout of 65.86 percent in the assembly polls on 4 December.[caption id=“attachment_1269545” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Securing EVMs. Reuters [/caption] According to election officials, EVMs were immediately shifted to strong rooms at 14 counting centres after the assembly polls got over and 24X7 security cover has been mounted with Delhi Police personnel and Central Paramilitary Force guarding EVMs and the surroundings. Counting is scheduled to start from 8 am on 8 December. “Two layers of security covers have been deployed for the safety of EVMs at all centres. “As many as 20 companies of paramilitary force form the inner circle of security while Delhi police are ensuring their safety from outside,” said special chief electoral officer Shurbir Singh. CCTV cameras have been mounted at all the centres. Only authorized election officials will be given access to enter counting centres, added Singh. To ensure transparency and that proper procedures are being followed during counting of votes, a “live-watch” will be kept by senior election officials from control room through web casting. Earlier, Delhi EC had used web casting technique for the first time to monitor the proceedings at several critical and hyper-critical polling stations in Delhi. A total number of 810 candidates are in the fray whose fate will be decided on 8 December. PTI