Official Inspection Debunks Claims of Unauthorized Strong Room Access
Hills Live News Desk
Sushanta Roy
Diphu May 1: The Returning Officer (RO) for the 108-Bokajan (ST) Legislative Assembly Constituency (LAC) has officially dismissed allegations of unauthorized access to the election strong room, following a comprehensive site inspection conducted today.
The investigation was triggered by concerns raised by a candidate regarding purported security breaches at the counting center. However, officials confirmed that the activities observed were part of routine election preparedness and posed no threat to the integrity of the polled EVMs.
According to an official statement, the inspection revealed that workers present at the venue were authorized contractors tasked with installing computer systems and LAN connections.
These preparations are mandatory for the scheduled dry run of the ENCORE portal, which is being conducted across all LACs today, May 1, 2026. The RO acknowledged that a lack of prior intimation regarding these technical works likely led to the misunderstanding.
“It came to notice that prior intimation of this activity was not given to the strong room agents appointed by the candidates, who may have led to apprehensions,” the official report noted.
Agents monitoring the site via CCTV had their view partially obstructed by security barricades, further fueling concerns when they observed movement in the counting hall.
The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), responsible for the inner cordon security, clarified that they were fully aware of the workers’ presence. Security personnel had granted access to the counting hall for the IT installation, identifying the individuals as regular, authorized personnel.
The representatives reportedly expressed satisfaction with the verification process, noting that no “untoward” activity or equipment was discovered.
Authorities emphasized that the strong room and the counting hall are located at opposite ends of the venue. Officials reiterated that the strong room remains “duly sealed” under continuous, multi-tier security surveillance in accordance with Election Commission guidelines.
“No instance of unauthorized access to the strong room was detected,” the Returning Officer confirmed, labeling the allegations as unsubstantiated.
To prevent further misunderstandings, the administration has issued written intimations to all candidates regarding ongoing preparedness activities.
Candidates have also been formally requested to depute agents to oversee the final stages of the counting center setup, ensuring direct oversight and maintaining public trust in the electoral process.