Mysuru: Losers claim EVMs tampered,demand hackers' arrest

Mysuru: A few losing candidates of Mysuru gathered with their party workers near NR police station Thursday night demanding the arrest of some “hackers,” who they claimed had tampered with the electronic voting machines (EVMs) of their respective booths.

JD(S) candidate, Abdulla, has in his police complaint alleged that an independent candidate from Mudigere constituency, Venkatesh, and one Pradeep had offered to hack EVMs for Rs 5 crore with the help of hackers from other states and help him win. He claimed they had approached the BJP candidate of N R constituency, S Sathish too, but they had turned them down and demanded an inquiry into the matter.

Mysuru police commissioner, Dr Subramanyeswar Rao when contacted, however said the allegations of the losing candidates about hacking of EVMs were absolutely unfounded and the so- called hackers had merely tried to con them with their offer. Luckily, they did not fall for it, he added.

“Last night a few candidates of NR, Chamaraja (Congress candidate Vasu) and Krishna Raja (Congress candidate, M K Somshekar) constituencies , who lost the recent elections, brought six or seven youngsters to the police, alleging that they had offered to hack EVMs for a few candidates. 

At best, these boys may have attempted to make a quick buck by misguiding the candidates on hacking the EVMs. Luckily none of the candidates appear to have been taken in. As its impossible to hack the EVMs ,no case has been registered, and no one has been arrested or taken into custody,” he explained.

Deputy Commissioner, Abhiram G Shankar  also emphasised that it was impossible to hack an EVM or  VVPAT. “The allegations are unfounded. The commission and administration are very clear on this,” he said.