Ex-Assam DGP Harekrishna Deka alleges EVM tampering after casting vote in Gauhati, says didn't complain fearing punishment

Guwahati: Former Assam DGP Harekrishna Deka has alleged that the voter-verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) machine at a polling booth had malfunctioned as the machine displayed some other name and not the one he had voted for. Deka, however, said he did not lodge a formal complaint fearing punishment if the claim is not proved. “My polling booth was Lachit Nagar LP School and I was the first to go inside. It was a bit late but I don’t know the reason. However, when I voted, it didn’t show the name of the candidate against whom I have pressed the button. It showed somebody else name,” said Harekrishna Deka on Tuesday. “I told them that there is some anomaly. They said that I can challenge it. They told that they will give me a receipt and I will have to pay Rs two and then it will be checked. However, they said that in case I have given a false complaint I will be punished for six months,” said the former DGP. “I don’t want to take the risk,” he said adding " How do I know how will it be proven?" There are 14 Lok Sabha constituencies in Assam. Voting was held for third and last phase for Assam for four seats on Tuesday.