Kasaragod: The Chief Election Agent of the Congress-Muslim League-led United Democratic Front (UDF) in Uduma constituency was taken into custody after arriving at a polling booth wearing camera-equipped glasses. B.M. Jamal, a lawyer and Chief Election Agent of UDF candidate K. Neelakandan, reached booth number 165 at Bekal Islamia ALP School with the device. The arrest was carried out under the supervision of the Circle Inspector, and the glasses were seized by the police.
The issue came to light after other party workers noticed that Jamal’s glasses appeared to have an embedded camera. They raised objections, alleging a violation of election norms. In response, B.M. Jamal stated that the glasses were part of his regular use and that he was unaware of any camera component in them. Acting on the complaint, the presiding officer, along with the police, intervened and confiscated the glasses.
The incident led to brief tension at the polling booth, with party workers confronting each other. However, timely intervention by the police helped restore calm and ensure the continuation of voting without further disruption.
Authorities have stated that entering a polling booth with recording devices is a violation of election rules, and an investigation is underway to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident. Jamal was later released after the glasses were taken into custody.
Meanwhile, polling in the Keralam Assembly elections has crossed 64 per cent by 4 pm, with steady turnout reported across both urban and rural areas. Officials expect the final turnout to exceed 80 per cent, driven by strong voter participation following an intense 23-day campaign involving 883 candidates. Voting is being conducted across 30,495 booths in all 140 constituencies, with approximately 2.71 crore voters exercising their franchise.
