Bihar Election Row: VVPAT Mock Slips Found Abandoned, EC Launches Probe

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The Election Commission of India (ECI) has launched an investigation after the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) alleged that mock VVPAT slips were found scattered on a road in Samastipur's Sarairanjan assembly constituency. The RJD claimed that a large number of VVPAT slips were found near KSR College, sparking concerns about the security of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). According to the EC, the VVPAT slips in question were mock slips generated during testing, not actual votes. Despite this, the Election Commission has taken swift action, directing the District Magistrate of Samastipur to investigate and suspending an Assistant Returning Officer (ARO) for negligence. An FIR has also been registered in the case. RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav had raised concerns about the incident on social media, questioning how and why the mock slips were discarded. RJD MP Manoj K Jha has also written to the Chief Election Commissioner, seeking enhanced security for strong rooms where EVMs are stored, citing power disruptions. The District Magistrate of Samastipur has taken possession of the mock slips and lodged an FIR, recommending two officials for a departmental inquiry. The incident has raised questions about the security and handling of EVMs in the run-up to the Bihar elections.