EVMs shifted to strongroom at NITK in Surathkal

The fate of candidates contesting from Dakshina Kannada Lok Sabha constituency is sealed in electronic voting machines which along with control units and VVPAT machines were shifted to a strongroom in National Institute of Technology Karnataka (NITK) in Surathkal on Thursday night.

After depositing the voting machines, the strongrooms were sealed in the presence of District Election Officer and Deputy Commissioner Sasikanth Senthil S and Election Observer Rajiv Ratan on Friday.

The scrutiny of the machines was done by the assistant returning officers and Tahsildars on the occasion.

Representatives of political parties were also present during the scrutiny, sources said. The voting machines will be taken out from the strongroom on the day of counting of votes on May 23.

Tight vigil

The security for the strongrooms, with EVMs from all the eight Legislative Assembly constituencies, has been beefed up.

The building has been provided with three-layer security with the inner layer security being provided by men and women from the elite CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force).

The other two cordons of security were formed by KSRP and civil police.

CCTV cameras have also been installed at vantage points.

Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Dr Selvamani and Additional Deputy Commissioner Venkatachalapathy were present.