51 strong rooms in Assam under 24×7 three-tier security

April 25: Assam has already completed its three-phase Lok Sabha Elections. The fate of the candidates have been sealed in the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and kept under strict vigil in the strong rooms. There are a total of 51 strong rooms in Assam where the EVM machines have been kept and sealed until the counting of votes on 23 May, 2019.

Elaborate security arrangements as per the direction of the Election Commission of India (ECI) were made. As per the guidelines of ECI. Three-tier security has been put in place for guarding the strong rooms where the polled Electronic Voting Machines are being kept. The three-tier security includes: innermost tier being guarded by the Central Armed Paramilitary Force (CAPF), the 2nd tier is guarded by the State Armed Police and the 3rd tier by the District Executive Force.

The strong rooms are strictly monitored by a gazetted officer along with a police officer. Every visit is documented  in a log book which is then checked twice a day by the Returning Officers. They were also directed by the ECI to ensure 24X7 CCTV camera coverage. The Returning Officers were also directed to prepare and submit day-to-day status report. A round the clock control room also have been set up adjacent to all the strong rooms. Further, the strong rooms were required to have uninterrupted electricity supply.