Madhya Pradesh: Hundreds of Voter IDs Found in Pond; Probe Ordered

Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh – Panic and political uproar have erupted in Madhya Pradesh's Chhatarpur district after hundreds of voter identification cards were discovered discarded in a pond. The discovery, which occurred on Saturday in Raja Talab of Bijawar town, has prompted an investigation and fueled allegations of potential vote theft by opposition parties.

The voter IDs were found during a pond-cleaning operation when workers spotted a bag filled with the documents. The cards reportedly belong to residents of Ward No. 15. News of the discovery quickly spread, drawing concerned citizens to the site to search for their missing IDs. Locals are questioning how such a large number of voter ID cards ended up in the pond, with many suspecting that the cards were intentionally dumped instead of being distributed to their rightful owners.

The incident has triggered strong reactions from opposition parties. Congress leaders have alleged negligence and demanded an inquiry to identify those responsible for the mishandling of these sensitive documents. Samajwadi Party के प्रदेश अध्यक्ष Manoj Yadav questioned the incident and has called for investigation. Concerns are rising about the role of Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and other officials involved in the distribution process. Authorities are expected to question the BLOs and related staff to determine how the ID cards went missing.

The Chhatarpur Collector, Parth Jaiswal, has ordered an investigation into the matter. The Bijawar Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) has been directed to conduct the inquiry, and further action will be taken based on the investigation report. According to reports, the SDM has already issued notices to current and former BLOs.

In a similar incident earlier this year, 43 voter IDs, some partially burnt, were found near the residence of Union Minister Virendra Kumar in Tikamgarh. An inquiry was also ordered in that case, with CCTV footage revealing a woman discarding the IDs.

These incidents raise serious questions about the integrity of the electoral process and the safety of voter information. The Election Commission and local authorities face increasing pressure to conduct thorough and transparent investigations to maintain public trust in the democratic process.