Bhubaneswar: In a shocking incident during the Phase III elections in Odisha, BJP Khordha MLA candidate Prasanta Jagadev has been detained by police for allegedly vandalizing an Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) and assaulting a presiding officer.
According to reports, the incident occurred at polling booth no. 114 of Kaunriapatna near Rajsunakhala under the Bolagarh-Begunia assembly constituency. Jagadev reportedly barged into the booth while voting was underway, causing chaos.
Witnesses claim that Jagadev vandalized property inside the booth, including an EVM. When the presiding officer attempted to intervene, Jagadev allegedly thrashed him. The chaos caused panic among voters and polling staff.
Jagadev then fled the scene in a vehicle, which reportedly also had BJP’s Bhubaneswar MP candidate Aparajita Sarangi present at the time. Police immediately pursued the vehicle and managed to detain Jagadev after a brief chase.
The police have taken Jagadev into custody and are investigating the incident further. Authorities have assured the public that strict measures are being taken to ensure the integrity of the voting process and the safety of all involved.