Amravati: Tension prevailed in Amravati's Gopal Nagar area after allegations surfaced about four EVMs being transported on a two-wheeler from Rajiv Gandhi School.
Rebel candidates Preeti Band from Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) in Badnera constituency and Tushar Bharati (BJP) also reached the school to assess the situation.
Amravati's deputy commissioners of police, Ganesh Shinde and Sagar Patil, arrived at the scene. There was heavy police deployment to ensure the situation did not spiral out of control.
Amravati district collector and election officer Saurabh Katiyar explained that the bus carrying election materials, including EVMs, had stopped approximately 300 to 500 meters away from the school due to narrow lanes leading to the polling centre. Officials had to carry the EVMs and materials manually to the school, he said.
Dismissing allegations that the EVMs were being transported elsewhere on a motorcycle, Katiyar said, "These claims are baseless. The EVMs are completely secure."
The district collector further stated that both rebel candidates were informed about the actual events and have no complaints regarding the matter.
The administration described the incident as a misunderstanding and urged the public and political workers to refrain from spreading or believing unfounded rumors.