National

ECI: Duplication of EPIC Numbers Does Not Indicate Duplicate or Fake Voters

Published

1 year ago

March 2, 2025

The Election Commission of India (ECI) stated on Sunday that the presence of duplicate Election Photo Identity Card (EPIC) numbers does not equate to duplicate or fraudulent voters. This clarification comes in response to various social media posts and news reports highlighting instances where voters from different states share identical EPIC numbers.In its statement, the ECI explained that while some electors may have the same EPIC number, all other information, including demographic details, Assembly constituency, and polling booth, varies for those holders of the identical EPIC number.

It emphasized that regardless of EPIC numbers, each voter must cast their ballot exclusively at their designated polling station within their registered constituency in their respective State or Union Territory.

The ECI clarified that the issuance of identical EPIC numbers to voters across different States/UTs arose from a decentralized and manual process employed before transitioning the electoral roll database to the ERONET platform. This led to specific State/UT Chief Electoral Officer offices using overlapping EPIC alphanumeric series, which increased the likelihood of duplicate EPIC numbers assigned to voters across different constituencies and states.

To address these concerns, the ECI has committed to ensuring that every registered elector receives a unique EPIC number. Any occurrences of duplicate EPIC numbers will be corrected through the allocation of distinct EPIC numbers.

Furthermore, the ECI mentioned that the ERONET 2.0 platform would be updated to facilitate this process.

National

UP Teen Dies in Street Racing Crash In Lucknow

Published

6 hours ago

March 16, 2026

Namma Kudla

Uttar Pradesh: A 17-year-old Class 12 student died in a road accident during a street race in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, on Sunday.

The victim, Naitik Kumar, was riding a Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 with a group of bikers near Janeshwar Mishra Park. While racing, he suddenly lost control of his bike after hitting something on the road.

His bike crashed into a Honda Activa in front of him. He then fell onto a road divider and suffered serious head injuries.

The Activa slid across the road and hit another bike, a Kawasaki Ninja, which was moving at high speed. The Ninja rider was adjusting his action camera when the accident happened.

Naitik Kumar was rushed to a nearby hospital, but doctors declared him dead. Police said he was not wearing proper protective gear.

Two others involved in the accident suffered minor injuries. Police are checking CCTV footage to find the exact cause of the crash.

National

BCM Hostel Manager Dies by Suicide

Published

11 hours ago

March 16, 2026

Namma Kudla

Hassan: A hostel manager working under the Backward Classes Welfare Department died by suicide in Channarayapatna of Hassan district.

The deceased has been identified as Lokesh (45). He had been serving as a warden for two hostels in Guddenahalli, Hassan, and was recently promoted as a hostel manager a few days ago. Following the promotion, he was posted as the manager of the BCM hostel in Channarayapatna.

According to reports, Lokesh allegedly died by suicide by hanging himself at his residence on Saturday night.

The exact reason for his suicide is not yet known. Local police visited the spot, conducted a preliminary inspection, and have begun an investigation into the incident.