'Forging' of voter I-cards

By Radhakrishnan Kuttoor

PATHANAMTHITTA, DEC 12. In a severe blow to the Electors' Photo Identity Cards Programme for distribution of identity cards to voters in Pathanamthitta Assembly segment in central Kerala, the Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AERO) have reportedly detected the `forging' of 222 bogus I-cards allegedly by the camera unit assigned by Keltron.

The fraud was detected when the AEROs noticed a sharp difference between the total number of applications and the number of I- cards being prepared by the camera unit while tallying before the distribution of the cards at a camp held at Elanthoor, near Kozhencheery, the other day. The camera unit was reportedly assigned by Keltron which was entrusted with the work of preparing the I-cards.

The authorities found that a total of 222 persons whose applications were either rejected by the AERO or who had not formally filed their applications before the AERO were included in the list of I-cards prepared by the camera unit.

The District Collector, Mr. S. Sukumaran, who is also the District Electoral Officer, told The Hindu that a formal inquiry conducted by the Electoral Registration Officer in Pathanamthitta has found prima facie irregularities in the preparation of 222 voters' I-cards and the cards have been kept in the custody of the Electoral Department here.

The Collector said a case had been filed at the Aranmula police station in connection with the incident.

The District Superintendent of Police, Mr. D. Vijayan, said that investigations were progressing and the police had issued an arrest warrant against Mr. Randeep, a part-time staff with Keltron, who was in charge of the camera unit at Elanthoor.

DCC(I) charge

Meanwhile, in a fax petition to the Chief Election Commissioner, Mr. M.S. Gill, today, the DCC(I) president, Mr. Peelippose Thomas, has alleged that certain Government employees assigned on hearing duty at the EPSC programme at Elanthoor were also party to the reported preparation of bogus voters' I-cards.

Mr. Thomas has also demanded a reverification of all voters' Identity Cards issued during the current phase in the Pathanamthitta Assembly segment. He has also urged the EC to initiate penal proceedings against those who were involved in the preparation of bogus I-cards.

It is also learnt that the ERO in his formal report to the Collector has reportedly stated that certain persons in whose names the forged cards were being prepared have stated before him that they have `submitted' the `application' as `suggested' by a local block panchayat member belonging to LDF.

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Section  : Southern States
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