Violence during election taken for granted
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: February 18, 2022 -

APART from the Heirok incident in December last when a youth was shot dead and his father left wounded, there has been no election-related casualty in the state so far.

Of course, two people also got killed in Mayang Imphal area in January when unknown persons fired at them but the incident is still shroud in mystery as no hard evidence could be unearthed by the police investigators to link the deaths to election issue unlike the Heirok incident which was directly a fallout of rivalry between candidates of two arch rival political parties.

Considering that the law and order situation in the run-up to the polls has been relatively under control, the election-conducting authorities deserve to be commended.

As every election held in the state is generally preceded by hostility among the political workers, unlawful elements committing offences and subjugating the people from exercising their right to choose candidates of their choice, Manipur remaining free from further major violent incidents indicates that the Election Commission of India along with its machinery here in the state has been working relentlessly to uphold sanctity of the democratic exercise.

However, reports of stray incidents of political workers harassing supporters of rival candidates imply that the democratic process for electing one's representative is no more the people's prerogative.

On its part, the election-conducting authorities had been categorising polling stations as normal, sensitive, hyper sensitive, etc., to streamline deployment of security personnel in problematic areas.

But the various measures adopted to prevent unwanted incidents in the state, where different armed outfits get hyperactive during elections, have not been effective.

At any election, the trajectory of violence seems to be clear. Violence is expected in the run-up to elections, during elections and post-election.

Compared to the past, when the electoral battle used to be principally between the incumbent government and the main opposition, this time around the tussle for power is multi-cornered.

In such a scenario, the ECI would be under tremendous pressure to ensure the polls pass off peacefully.

In view of Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh, Bhakta Charan Das and others handing over a complaint memorandum to the Manipur CEO on Wednesday containing details of over 14 election-related violent incidents in six assembly constituencies, it is obvious the election-conducting authorities would have to take most stringent measures to maintain order in the state.

As proposed by the Congress party for declaring Heirok, Mayang Imphal and Ukhrul assembly constituencies as hyper sensitive, the CEO might comply by deploying additional forces.

However, the CEO or the ECI wouldn't be in a position to prevent disturbances caused to political events as deployment of central forces in every nook and corner is out of the context.

While it is the desire of every sane person to participate in the elections without any fear, in many parts of the state peaceful conduct of the polls can't be guaranteed as the serious issue of arms proliferation, among other anti-social activities, has only received cursory attention from the administration.

While ineffectiveness in restraining the anti-social elements during election times deepens the suspicion that those helming the affairs might be using the levers of state power to gain advantage, presence of large number of candidates with criminal antecedents indicates that holding elections in a free and fair manner would be nothing less than wishful thinking.