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SC to hear today plea for verification of EVMs used in Haryana

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New Delhi, Jan 24: The Supreme Court is slated to hear on Friday a plea filed by Congress leaders seeking verification of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) used during the Haryana Assembly polls.

As per the causelist published on the website of the apex court, a bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Manmohan will take up the matter for hearing on January 24.

Earlier on December 20, for the second time in a row, a bench of CJI Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar opined that the plea seeking directions to the Election Commission of India (ECI) to lay down a memorandum for the checking and verification of the original burnt memory/microcontroller of the four components of the EVM should be taken up for hearing by a bench headed by Justice Datta in January 2025.

Before this, a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and P.B. Varale opined that the fresh plea should be placed before the same Bench which had passed directions on EVMs in April 2024.

The Justice Nath-led Bench said that the fresh petition related to the interpretation and implementation of the previous judgment of the apex court and therefore, the registry should place the papers before the CJI, who is the master of the roster, for passing appropriate orders as to whether the petition should be listed before the previous Bench.

In order to strengthen the integrity of the election process in the country, a Bench of Justices Khanna (now CJI) and Datta, in April 2024, passed a direction for checking and verification of the burnt memory/microcontroller in 5 per cent of EVMs for any tampering or modification on a written request made by candidates securing second and third highest votes in an election.

The checking and verification exercise was directed to be undertaken by a team of engineers from the manufacturers of the EVMs, with the candidates and their representatives having the option to remain present at the time of such an exercise, it said.

The latest petition filed by Karan Singh Dalal, a former 5-time Congress MLA, said that the ECI has not issued any procedure for checking and verification of the original burnt memory/microcontroller of the four components of the EVM (Control Unit, Ballot Unit, VVPAT and Symbol Loading Unit) in terms of the SC judgment.

The plea sought directions to the poll body to lay down a memorandum for checking and verification of the original burnt memory/microcontroller of the four components of the EVM (Control Unit, Ballot Unit, VVPAT and Symbol Loading Unit). It further sought that the above exercise be undertaken within eight weeks and be made applicable to the EVM checking and verification forms dated October 14, 2024, submitted to the ECI. The petition, filed through advocate Neha Rathi, said the issue raised in the petition requires to be authoritatively decided by the apex court owing to significant public importance and ramifications across the country.

“The matter affects the functioning of the democracy in the country and elections being held across the country in various states, and therefore needs to be urgently and authoritatively decided,” it said. The absence of any procedure for verification of burnt memory for tampering shows reluctance on the part of the ECI to subject the original burnt memory microcontroller from any scrutiny whatsoever, the petition contended.

Crime

Man found dead inside car in Patna, police probe gunshot angle

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Patna, Oct 3: Panic spread in Patna Rajiv Nagar area after the body of a man was found inside a car parked outside Jamuna Palace on Friends Colony Road No. 4 on Saturday, officials said.

Preliminary information reveals that the man may have lost his life due to a gunshot injury. According to initial reports, a firearm and a spent cartridge were also found inside the car.

However, police have not yet officially determined whether the incident was a case of suicide, homicide, murder, or an accidental discharge.

After receiving information about the incident, police reached the spot and recovered the body from the vehicle. The area was secured as investigators began collecting evidence.

Police are examining the firearm and cartridge to determine whether they are linked to the death. Investigators are also trying to establish whether anyone else was present in the vehicle and reconstruct the sequence of events leading up to the incident.

Police are expected to examine CCTV footage from the surrounding area to determine who was near the vehicle before the incident.

The identity and background of the deceased, along with his mobile phone, call records, and recent contacts, are also likely to form part of the investigation. Police are also establishing contact with the family members of the deceased.

Forensic examination of the vehicle, report of the firearm, and other evidence could provide further clues about how the shooting occurred, police said.

Despite reports of a gunshot injury and the recovery of a weapon and spent cartridge, police have not yet officially classified the incident as murder or suicide. The circumstances surrounding the death are expected to become clearer after the postmortem examination and forensic analysis.

Police are investigating all possible angles and have yet to issue a detailed statement on the incident.

The discovery of the body attracted a crowd in the densely populated Rajiv Nagar area, while police continued their investigation at the scene.

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Crime

13-year-old girl found hanging at home in Bengal; family alleges rape, blackmail by man

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Kolkata, Sep 3: Tension prevailed in the Gaighata area of West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district after the body of a 13-year-old schoolgirl was found hanging at her home, police said on Saturday. The family has alleged that the minor was raped and blackmailed by a 32-year-old local youth, and claimed that she may have taken the extreme step due to mental distress.

The Class 8 student was found hanging by her family members on Friday night. Police reached the spot after being informed, recovered the body, and sent it to the hospital for an autopsy. Police said the exact cause of her death is being investigated.

According to the family, the girl had allegedly been in contact with the 32-year-old youth for about a year. They alleged that a few months ago, the youth called her to his house, where his mother allegedly took the girl into a room and locked the door from outside. The family further alleged that the youth sexually assaulted the minor inside the room.

The family also accused the youth of blackmailing the girl with objectionable photographs and videos. The girl’s mother alleged that the accused used the material to intimidate her daughter and force her to meet him. She claimed that the girl was sometimes called away on the pretext of going to school or for other reasons, and was threatened with the circulation of the photographs and videos if she refused.

The girl’s father said the family initially did not know about her contact with the youth. After learning about it, he warned his daughter against maintaining the relationship. However, he alleged that the youth continued to meet her and even threatened to attack her with acid.

The family has also alleged that the girl was forcibly made to wear conch shell bangles and vermilion at the youth’s house. They claimed that she did not consent to the alleged marriage and was later brought back home by her mother.

Following the girl’s death, the family submitted a written complaint at Gaighata police station and demanded strict punishment against the accused. Police said they have launched an investigation based on the complaint.

No arrest has been reported so far. Police said the allegations, circumstances surrounding the girl’s death and the other claims made by the family are being examined as part of the investigation.

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National News

Three of family killed, girl injured as speeding trailer truck runs over motorcycle in MP’s Dhar

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Dhar, Oct 3: Three members of a family were killed and an 11-year-old girl was seriously injured after a speeding trailer truck ran over their motorcycle in Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh on Saturday morning, police said.

The accident occurred early morning near Pitgara intersection on the Lebad-Nayagaon four-lane highway when Rahul (35), his wife Pooja (30) and their two daughters were travelling from Bada Kathodiya village to their farm in Kherwas for garlic sowing.

The trailer, coming from the Petlawad side, allegedly hit the motorcycle and ran over the family, according to police.

Rahul, Pooja and their 13-year-old daughter Suman died on the spot, while their other daughter Shivani sustained serious injuries and was admitted to a hospital for treatment.

Following the accident, family members of the victims and villagers gathered at the spot and staged a sit-in protest on the four-lane highway, demanding action against the truck driver and safety measures at the intersection.

The protest brought traffic on the highway to a standstill for nearly two-and-a-half hours, resulting in a traffic jam stretching around two kilometres on both sides.

Several passenger buses and school vehicles were also stranded.

SDM Priyanka Mimrot, Tehsildar Suresh Nagar, SDOP Arvind Singh Tomar and Badnawar police station in-charge Amit Singh Kushwaha reached the spot and held talks with the protesters.

“The administration has assured the villagers that strict action will be taken against the trailer driver and necessary safety measures will be ensured at the spot,” SDM Mimrot said.

The protesters withdrew the blockade after receiving assurances from the officials that safety measures would be implemented at the site.

“The road was cleared after discussions with the family and villagers. Action will be taken according to law against those found responsible for the accident,” an official said.

Police have started an investigation into the accident and are taking further action.

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