New Delhi, April 12 -- A Central Observer's attempt to override Kerala's strongroom locking protocols sparked a tense standoff on Thursday in Kottayam, with CISF personnel allegedly pointing weapons at local election officials, said officials attached to the office of the state's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO). The confrontation unfolded at Baselios College, the designated strongroom housing electronic voting machines (EVMs) for the Vaikom constituency, the CEO officials added. Ranjit Kumar Sinha, a 2005-batch IAS officer, was appointed by the Election Commission of India (ECI) as Central Observer for Kaduthuruthy, Vaikom (SC), and Ettumanoor seats. According to CEO officials, after polling ended on April 9, Sinha directed that keys to the l...