SHILLONG, Feb 19: A man from East Garo Hills District has been arrested for alleging in a video that hitting any button on an EVM results in a vote in favour of the BJP.
Bolong R Sangma, a resident of Dambo Mrok, Rongjeng was arrested after the returning officer of the Rongjeng assembly constituency filed a police complaint, chief electoral officer (CEO) FR Kharkongor said on Saturday.
He said a case has been registered under Rongjeng PS Case No 4(2)2023, U/S 171G IPC.
Sangma, had on February 16 shared the clip, alleging that EVMs were manipulated.
In a complaint to the SP of East Garo Hills, the returning officer said in a video clip circulated on the evening of February 16, Sangma has alleged that the EVMs to be used in the ensuing general election to the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly have been manipulated and that any vote that is cast will go to the BJP candidate.
The speech has created fear, and mistrust in the system in the minds of the people and is completely false and misleading and tantamounts to luring of voters, the RO said while requesting that action should be taken against the offender under the relevant sections of law for inciting suspicion and falsely implicating the State Election Machinery as well as tarnishing the image of the Election Commission of India.
