Imphal, February 14: Polling in the first phase today was marked by police firing, ballot box snatching and booth capturing.

Several persons including a presiding officer were assaulted in separate incidents.

Following incidents of booth capturing and rigging, the CEO has recommended repoll in 18 booths.

Repoll has been recommended in one booth in Thoubal AC, 10 in Sugnu AC, one in Lamlai AC, two in Andro AC, one in Khangabok AC, 1 in Heirok AC and 2 in Wangkhem AC.

A fierce encounter followed after unidentified gunmen attacked the residence of Congress candidate, Suresh in Wangling Tentha at Sapam Maning Tekcham Mamang Leikai for the fourth time at 1.15 am today.

Police said that three cases in connection with election related violence have been taken up in Bishnupur district while another 13 cases have been registered in Thoubal district.

THOUBAL DISTRICT: Miscreants barged into polling booth 31/2 at Moijing Thongkhong in Thoubal constituency and carried out booth capturing.

Polling was stopped till the end of the voting period and the presiding officer identified as N Rajbapu was assaulted.

After the incident, another group came and manhandled the PO charging him with colluding with the first group.

Rajbapu recommended repoll in the booth.

Voting was held up for some time at station 34/21 in Wangjing Tentha AC after unidentified gunmen fired at the polling station.

The ballot box was snatched by unidentified per sons in two polling stations in Wangjing Tentha.

In Wangkhem, tension prevailed after workers of MPP candidate and former Minister Dr Nimaichand Luwang allegedly abducted an MSCP worker, one Bira of Haokha.

Bira who is believed to be a worker of the MSCP was released late tonight.

Two persons were reportedly abducted in Thoubal.

They were released later.

Polling was stopped at 12 noon in Sangaiyumpham Nung-phu Primary School 35/21 in Khangabok AC after a clash reportedly broke out between workers of Congress candidate O Ibobi and FPM's Jatra.

Booth capture by unidentified gunmen occurred from station 39/1 to 39/9 in Sugnu.

Polling was also held up in Heirok part one High School south wing 33/17.IMPHAL EAST: Polling was held up for some time after police fired some blank rounds to stop a clash between MSCP and NCP workers at polling station 5/2 of Thongju AC; nobody was injured in the firing.

Escorts of the NCP candidate and Assembly Speaker S Dhananjoy fired some blank rounds after tension mounted between two rival groups at polling station 5/7.Unidentified persons snatched a ballot box at station number 5/19.The box was recovered from a nearby stream.

Polling was also held up in polling stations 5/14, 5/15, 5/16 and 5/25 in the constituency.

Miscreants decamped with around 101 ballot papers in Heingang AC.

Polling was held up for some time.

Security personnel recovered a tampered ballot box at Andro AC after it was snatched by miscreants.

Officials stopped voting for some time after unidentified persons snatched a ballot box at Langthabal AC.

Electorates over powered and beat up the Congress candidate in Andro AC Thounaojam Shyamkumar and his workers for taking away ballot papers from the Yairipok Tulihal booth.

The candidate came with his escorts and tried to get away after taking the ballot box from the station.

However the voters chased and caught hold of them and beat them up.

They were later handed over to the Yairipok police station.

However they were released later.

Yairipok police has registered two cases in connection with booth capturing in poll station 7/13 and 7/14 at Pairoukhongjin in Andro AC today.

Security personnel recovered one pistol from FPM candidate in Khundrakpam AC K Tomba.

Reports said the pistol was recovered when the personnel rushed in to polling station 1/16 and 1/17 after hearing gunshots.

Security personnel fired around 50 rounds at polling station number 1/25 in Khundrakpam AC.

The Congress candidate Th Nabakumar, his son and some workers were beaten up.

Irate poll workers burnt down a wooden bridge on Iril river at Heingang after a clash broke out between rival workers.

BISHNUPUR DISTRICT: Police fired around 20 blank rounds after a clash broke out between CPI and Congress workers at station number 29/14 of Kumbi AC this noon.

Some CPI workers were assaulted.

Polling was held up for two hours in Keinou Thongkha Government Junior High School in Oinam AC after MSCP and NCP workers confronted each other at 11.30 am.

Voting began one and a half hour late in Keinou High School.

25/12 after controversy erupted when the MSCP agent came 15 minutes late.

One agent was also assaulted in Wangoo under Kumbi AC.

Polling was by and large peaceful in Moirang AC.

Escorts of MSCP candidate in Bishnupur AC K Govindas fired some blank rounds when DPP supporters allegedly obstructed the driver of the candidate from casting his vote.

An election worker was allegedly assaulted by BJP workers in Kumhi AC's Saiton area.

He was taken to hospital.

Booth capture has been reported' in Kha Jiri station in Nambol AC.

Workers of a candidate dumped the ballot paper in the water at station 2/17 in Langthabal AC.

Election process was held up at 24/18 Nambol Makha Government LP School in Nambol AC after violence broke out at around 7.40 am.

IMPHAL WEST: Polling stopped from 2.30 pm after one person namely K Kanhai was injured in a scuffle among agents at Moidangpok Khunou 18/3 in Konthoujam AC.

One Th Kuber snatched five books of ballot paper counterfoils but was later brought back by local club members.

Police fired tear gas shells and several blank rounds to quell a mob that had gathered while poll officials were collecting ballot boxes of Lamsang AC at Lamsang police station before depositing them to the DC office at around 7 this evening.