SDPI Demands High Court Supervised Probe into Alipore EVM Destruction

The destruction of around 4,000 Electronic Voting Machines, including Control Units, Ballot Units and VVPAT devices, in the fire at the Alipore Zilla Parishad building in Kolkata is a matter of grave concern that has raised serious questions about electoral transparency and public confidence in the democratic process.

These EVMs were reportedly used in the recently concluded West Bengal Assembly elections, and ensuring their secure custody and preservation was the responsibility of the concerned authorities. The unusual pattern of the fire and the destruction of a large number of election-related materials require a comprehensive, impartial and credible investigation. In view of the existing concerns regarding electoral transparency, the investigation must be conducted under the supervision of the Hon’ble Kolkata High Court to ensure independence, accountability and public trust.

The authorities must immediately provide complete details regarding the incident and examine all possible aspects, including negligence, security lapses or any deliberate act. Any compromise of the integrity of electoral materials, whether due to negligence or intentional action, is a serious matter that must be addressed with utmost responsibility. The truth behind the incident must be brought before the people, and those found responsible must face strict legal action.

Hakikul Islam
State President
Social Democratic Party of India
West Bengal.