Imphal: Manipur police have been arrested a man who allegedly stole a ballot paper while attending the opening of the strong room for commissioning EVMs and VVPATs at Imphal West DC office on Thursday.
The arrested person has been identified as H Naresh of Keishamthong Elangbam Leikai, representative of Maheshwar Thounaojam, a contesting candidate of the Republican Party of India (Athawale) from 12 Keishamthong AC in the upcoming Manipur state polls.
A statement issued by Th Kirankumar, district election officer and DC, stated that the incident took place at Kuranganayani Hall, DC office complex, Lamphelpat when Naresh covertly pocketed one ballot paper bearing serial no. 0001 that was meant to be used for ballot unit (BU) of 12-Keishamthong AC at 12:33 pm.
On finding the ballot paper missing, an enquiry was conducted and the same was verified through CCTV footage. A case was registered at the Lamphel police station against the person in connection with the case, said Kirankumar.
The arrested person is now in police custody, he added.
He further mentioned that to instil a sense of faith and transparency of procedure in the electoral process, the ballot paper bearing the serial no. 0001 of 12-Keishamthong AC has been cancelled and rejected. It will not be used further in the election, he added.
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