Team Herald
PANJIM: Voting in the North Goa district was peaceful with minor incidents of preventive detention and change in voting machines at 11 polling booths.
However, North Collector Nila Mohanan asserted that this did not delay the voting process even as polling in around 44 booths was underway till 5.45 pm.
Eleven VVPATs at Pernem, Bicholim, Siolim, Saligao, Calangute, Porvorim, Taleigao, St Cruz, Cumbarjua, Poriem and Valpoi had to be replaced after they were detected to have technical problems. One control unit each at Pernem and Bicholim and two at Poriem were changed. “There was no delay in the voting process as the change of machines was done in the least possible time,” she told the media after the voting concluded at 5 pm. “It was a good turnout in the district.” Since there were people in the queues at certain booths even after 5pm, voting time was extended.
A couple of preventive detentions were made at certain places. Superintendent of Police (North Goa) Kartik Kashyap confirmed that neither cognizable nor non-cognizable cases filed during the entire polling period. “It was an incident free and peaceful election,” he said.
Mohanan added that the election was a ‘smooth experience and integration of VVPATs and EVMs’.
