On Friday, Durgadas Kamat, who had raised the issue, was summoned by the District Election Officer. Durgadas Kamat has surrendered 247 EPIC cards to the DEO, who thereafter scrutinised the cards.
The preliminary inquiry has revealed the abandoned cards were invalid ones surrendered by electors, as they had wrong names. Cards with correct names have subsequently been issued to the respective card holder.
“Besides, the provision of section 28 of the registration of the Electors rules 1960 provides that a duplicate copy of the EPIC has to be retained by the ERO. The possibilities of the same finding its way in the gutters is also being looked into by the DEO. However, to cast aside all aspersion, an FIR has been lodged by the Salcete mamlatdar before the Margao police to track down how the EPIC cards were found strewn in the roadside gutter and also to trace out the culprit responsible for occurrence of such an event,” Naik said.
“As of now, there is nothing to be panic upon and every elector whose name is registered has the right to vote,” Collector Swapnil Naik said.
Meanwhile, Election Commission officials visited the offices engaged in electoral roll preparation to audit the procedures of the summary revision of rolls. The officials made house visits and verified various residents on records.
