M.G. Devasahayam advocates for ballot papers over EVMs, citing concerns over democracy
Bengaluru: M.G. Devasahayam, the convener of the Forum for Electoral Integrity and a retired IAS officer, has called for the dropping of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in favor of traditional paper ballots, asserting that EVMs pose a threat to democracy.
Speaking at a press conference held at a private hotel, Devasahayam said that fair and impartial elections can only be ensured through the use of ballot papers. He criticized the EVM and Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) systems, stating that they do not align with democratic principles as voters are unable to verify their choices before casting their votes.
Devasahayam highlighted the lack of transparency regarding the manufacturing and sourcing of EVMs and VVPATs, raising concerns about the integrity of elections. He questioned the Election Commission's control over the electoral process, particularly in light of Aadhaar linkage to voter cards and the supervision of state-owned companies over EVMs.
Despite requests for information under the Right to Information Act, Devasahayam expressed disappointment over the Election Commission's delayed response and lack of transparency regarding EVMs. He stressed that EVMs do not offer adequate protection against tampering or fraudulent voting.
The press conference also featured Supreme Court Advocate Muhammad Pracha, writer Agrahara Krishnamurthy, and journalist S.R. Aradhya, who supported Devasahayam's call for a return to paper ballots.
Concerns were raised over the vulnerability of EVMs to hacking and virus attacks, prompting calls for a return to the use of traditional ballot papers for voting.
The event concluded with a petition signed by 112 technicians, experts, senior citizens, and civil service officers, urging the Election Commission to address the concerns raised about the integrity of the electoral process under the current EVM system.
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Meghalaya: Interstate ATM theft racket busted, 6 arrested
Shillong (PTI): An interstate racket involved in ATM thefts across several states has been busted, with the arrest of six persons in connection with a break-in at an electronic banking outlet in Meghalaya's Ri-Bhoi district, police said on Wednesday.
The accused were allegedly involved in breaking into an ATM of the Meghalaya Cooperative Apex Bank on April 5, 2024, they said.
Three of the accused were arrested from Barpeta in Assam, while the remaining were apprehended from Haryana, police said.
Ri-Bhoi SP Giri Prasad M said a special police team was constituted to investigate the case.
"With coordinated efforts and assistance from Assam and Haryana Police, we were able to apprehend the accused involved in the ATM break-in," he told PTI.
The case was registered at Umiam police station under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
According to police, the gang used gas cutters to break open the ATM safe and fled with the cash within minutes.
"The group is part of a larger network involved in similar ATM thefts across different states. Further investigation is underway to dismantle the entire network," the SP added.
