EPIC probe begins

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Dec. 28. — In response to the clarification sought by the election commission on detection of irregularities in the distribution process of electronic photo identity cards in the Noorpur gram panchayat area, the Malda district magistrate today started an inquiry into the allegations received from the EC, a senior election official informed.

Authorities said that the sub-divisional officer has been assigned to inquire into the matter and the block development officer has been instructed to submit satisfactory clarification on it by evening.

“I will check the submitted reports and will then personally conduct a verification into the irregularities in the photo identity cards distribution by Thursday”, said Mr Abhijit Chowdhuri, the Malda district magistrate.

It has been reported that Malda, Murshidabad and Birbhum districts have received a demand for clarification from the EC yesterday.

The EC team itself, which had come to visit the three districts few days ago, detected irregularities and reported to headquarters in New Delhi.

According to the officials , the dispute came to light in the 11 polling stations under the Noorpur gram panchayat, led by Congress in the Manikchak block in Malda district, where 12,606 voters are enlisted in the electoral roll.

The officials informed that of the 9,780 photo ID cards, 9683 have been distributed. 97 of the remaining ID cards are lying in the possession of the concerned authorities.

Official sources said: “ The irregularities that have been recorded state that more than 1500 photo ID have been misplaced.

Though, the gram-panchayat was responsible for the distribution of the the photo ID cards and maintenance of record, but, the work was not carried out properly.

In many cases, it was found that some relatives and neighbours had received the wrong ID cards”.

“The EC has directed the state to see to it that the EPIC is handed to the original card holders and also a clean record of its distribition is maintained”, the officials said.

The election department is now preparing and distributing the rest of the ID cards to at least 10 to15 per cent of the voters.

It was also found that some people belonging to poor families are still reluctant to come to mobile or permanent EPIC distribution centres.

In many cases, the local leaders have taken up the responsibility to bring them to the EPIC centres using money from the party funds for this purpose.