Fire at Administrative Building in Alipore, Kolkata Destroys 4,000 EVMs; Raises Questions

Kolkata, June 12: A major fire broke out at an administrative building in the Alipore area of Kolkata, resulting in the destruction of approximately 4,000 Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), according to reports. Multiple fire engines were deployed, and firefighters managed to bring the blaze under control after prolonged efforts. No casualties have been reported in the incident.

According to official sources, a technical fault or electrical short circuit is being considered as a possible cause of the fire. However, investigators have raised questions about the pattern in which the fire spread. Reports indicate that although the fire reportedly started on a lower floor, the EVMs stored on an upper floor suffered the most extensive damage. As a result, the possibility of sabotage has not been ruled out. An FIR has been registered, and a forensic investigation is underway.

The incident has sparked political controversy. A section of the opposition has alleged that the EVMs stored in the building had been used in various constituencies of South 24 Parganas during the recent West Bengal Assembly elections. They argue that the destruction of these machines could complicate any future complaints, legal challenges, or verification processes related to the election. Some opposition leaders have further alleged that the fire may have been deliberately started to destroy potential evidence related to voting irregularities. However, no evidence supporting these allegations has been made public so far.

Meanwhile, no detailed official response has yet been issued by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) regarding the incident. The administration has stated that it is too early to draw conclusions about the exact cause of the fire and that the matter remains under investigation.

It is important to note that while the destruction of approximately 4,000 EVMs has been confirmed, claims that the fire was intentionally set to conceal evidence of electoral fraud have not been proven. The investigation is ongoing.