Scare at Kovai strongroom as 130 CCTV cameras go off 

As many as 144 cameras were fixed at the GCT College of Technology to maintain round the clock vigil. The EVMs collected from six Assembly segments; Coimbatore North, Coimbatore South, Singanallur, Kavundampalayam, Sulur and Palladam of Coimbatore Lok Sabha constituency were kept in sealed strongrooms in the collegepremises. 

Of the 144 cameras, about 130 fixed in front of counting rooms, strongrooms and in the premises went off suddenly around 9.15 am. The images could not be seen in the televisions kept in a separate room to be monitored by party agents and election staff. 

Official sources said that only 14 CCTV cameras fixed in front of Coimbatore North Assembly constituency room functioned. As panic prevailed, Collector K Rajamani rushed and confirmed that cameras fixed in front of strongrooms, where EVMs for five Assembly segments were stored, have gone off.  

The technicians took up repair works and the CCTVs resumed to function around 4 pm. Only then, the Collector left the college premises. The non-functioning of CCTVs gained immediate focus as just days ago a Tahsildar and three government employees entered into a storage room adjoining the strongroom, where EVMs from Madurai Lok Sabha constituency were kept resulting in an uproar. 

Speaking to reporters, Collector K Rajamani said the recorded images could not be seen on television due to some disruptions in transmission cable. 

“All the cameras are working, but there seem to be some transmission issues. The cable joints could have got snapped due to rain and heavy winds. Yet action will be initiated against the contractor in-charge for its maintenance. Now everything has been set right,” he said. 

Tight security is in place at GCT college with a strong contingent of the paramilitary force, armed reserve cops and local police manning the premises, where EVMs for the six Assembly segments were kept in separate sealed rooms.