By Tanmay 
Alipore EVM Fire: Around 4,000 Electronic Voting Machines were destroyed in a suspicious blaze at a government building in Kolkata, triggering a sabotage investigation.
Kolkata: In a major incident raising serious security concerns, the Alipore EVM fire has destroyed around 4,000 Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) at a government administrative building in South 24 Parganas Zilla Parishad, Alipore.
The massive blaze, which broke out on the morning of Wednesday, June 10, quickly engulfed multiple floors of the multi-storied building, reducing the EVMs—used in the recent West Bengal Assembly elections—to ashes. The fire also damaged important official documents and infrastructure belonging to various government departments, including wings of the Zilla Parishad and the education department.
Fire Services Minister Kaushik Chowdhury confirmed the extensive damage, stating that the affected machines had been deployed across roughly 10 Assembly constituencies. The EVMs were stored on the eighth and ninth floors of the building.
Unusual Fire Spread Fuels Sabotage Suspicions
What has made the Alipore EVM fire particularly concerning is the pattern of the blaze. According to preliminary findings shared by the Minister, the fire appears to have originated on the third or fourth floor. However, it rapidly spread to the upper floors while causing relatively less damage to the intervening fifth, sixth, and seventh floors. This unusual progression has prompted questions about whether the incident was accidental or deliberate.
Speaking to reporters, Minister Kaushik Chowdhury emphasized that the incident “does not appear to be an ordinary fire.” He noted that the spread of flames and the nature of the damage are being closely examined, with the possibility of sabotage not being ruled out. A final determination will depend on the forensic investigation.
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Investigation Underway
Following the incident, the South 24 Parganas district administration filed a formal complaint at the Alipore police station. Police have registered an FIR and launched a detailed probe to determine the exact cause—whether an electrical short circuit, technical fault, or external intervention.
A forensic team has already visited the site, though intense residual heat initially restricted full access. Samples from the affected areas are being collected for laboratory analysis. Authorities expect the forensic report to provide clarity on whether the Alipore EVM fire was accidental or the result of human sabotage.
The building houses multiple government offices, and normal administrative functions are expected to face significant disruption until a full damage assessment is completed and restoration work begins.
This incident has drawn widespread attention, with political circles and election observers closely monitoring the developments. Further updates are awaited as the investigation progresses.
তন্ময় ‘প্রাইমইনসাইট’ (PrimeInsight)-এর প্রতিষ্ঠাতা ও প্রধান লেখক। কলকাতা-ভিত্তিক একজন উৎসাহী ব্লগার ও স্বতন্ত্র ভাষ্যকার হিসেবে তিনি গুরুত্বপূর্ণ বিষয়গুলোর ওপর তীক্ষ্ণ ও বাস্তবসম্মত দৃষ্টিভঙ্গি তুলে ধরেন।
সঙ্গীত, সমসাময়িক ঘটনাপ্রবাহ এবং রাজনীতি—এই ক্ষেত্রগুলোতে গভীর জ্ঞানের অধিকারী ইন্দ্রজিৎ তাঁর লেখায় সাংস্কৃতিক উপলব্ধির সাথে রাজনৈতিক বিশ্লেষণের সমন্বয় ঘটান। জাতীয় ও বৈশ্বিক ঘটনাবলির সাথে সংযোগ বজায় রাখার পাশাপাশি তাঁর লেখায় কলকাতার বৌদ্ধিক ও শৈল্পিক সত্তার প্রতিফলনও ফুটে ওঠে।