Protests after videos show alleged tampering of EVMs

Varanasi/Lucknow: Protests broke out in Chandauli, Ghazipur and Mau in east Uttar Pradesh after videos of alleged movement and tampering of EVMs went viral on social media, a charge dismissed by the Election Commission as “frivolous” and “unfounded”.
A video clip of EVMs being off-loaded and put in a room inside the counting centre complex in Chandauli was doing the rounds on social media. BJP state unit president Mahendra Nath Pandey is seeking re-election from the seat.
Another video was from Ghazipur where SP-BSP alliance candidate Afzal Ansari is seen staging protest alleging that the administration was trying to change EVMs. In the video, Ansari and his supporters were seen having a heated exchange with a police officer. The officer is urging them to clear the area, but the leader and his supporters refuse to budge, claiming there was an attempt to take out a vehicle loaded with EVMs. As the videos went viral, workers of various parties, including SP and Congress, held protests in the three districts on Monday and Tuesday, alleging that EVMs were being “moved around” outside strongrooms.P 3