Turbulence and violence loom large over ADC polls ; Poll materials captured, village chief abducted
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 30 2015 : Amidst multiple reports about abduction and intimidation of candidates and voters, poll materials for three polling stations have been confiscated by unknown miscreants today.

A team of polling personnel were heading to 3/9 Chothe Munpi polling station, 3/14 Ukha polling station and 3/16 Mongken polling station of 3-Henglep DCC when some unidentified miscreants overpowered them and snatched away poll materials including ballot boxes and ballot papers this afternoon.

Meanwhile, the concerned Returning Officer has submitted a report to the District Election Officer and the State Election Commission on the incident of capturing poll materials.

Commenting on the incident, BJP Manipur Pradesh president Th Chaoba said that the unidentified persons were able to capture poll materials because the polling personnel were travelling with just six unarmed police.

Polling personnel checking in at Ukhrul district Hqs before departure for different polling stations

The particular DCC would see a straight fight between BJP and Congress but BJP has no hand in capturing the poll materials.

Meanwhile, Taningjang village chairman Ringtheineng who reportedly supports the BJP candidate in Magulong DCC of Tamenglong ADC has been abducted by three suspected cadres of NSCN-IM today.

According to Th Chaoba, NSCN-IM's kilonser Mairi-sing, major Agim and one Nambou belonging to Makui-longdi region were involved in the abduction of the village chairman.

While urging the State Government to provide security escorts for all polling teams, Chaoba appealed to all UG groups to refrain from committing any form of disruptive activities and let the voters elect their representatives based on their free will.

Election committee convenor, secretary and agent of M John Thangal, BJP candidate in 6-Kalapahar DCC of Sadar Hills ADC were also abducted by some unidentified persons from Senapati yesterday afternoon.

Speaking to media persons at his Yaikongpao residence this afternoon, John Thangal said that his supporters went to Senapati as they were called there by some of their friends.

They were received in a hotel at Senapati.

But just after half an hour, some unknown persons barged into the room when their friends were away and led the convenor, the secretary and the agent away forcibly.

Even though John Thangal did not name the particular UG group responsible for the election, he said that his rival is an NPF candidate.

As the location where his supporters were held hostage was ascertained at around midnight, hundreds of John Thangal's supporters moved to the area compelling the abductors to release the three persons this morning.

Taking due note of all these disruptive activities, BJP National Executive Member Tapir Gao said that militant groups under SoO pact or ceasefire agreement should not interfere in the election process.

Even though the SoO pact expired last year, the Central Government has been working to hold a meeting at New Delhi on June 8 in order to extend the SoO at the insistence of BJP Manipur Pradesh, Tapir Gao said.

It is a fact that the ceasefire agreement between Government of India and NSCN-IM does not cover Manipur.

Nonetheless, the two parties have been holding meetings every day or every month.

They should not abduct BJP candidates as well as candidates of any other political party.

They should strictly adhere to ceasefire ground rules, the former MP asserted.

On being enquired how would they react if NSCN-IM cadres still continue their unlawful activities, Tapir Gao said that they would take up the matter with the party's top leadership apart from apprising the Central Government.

Law and order is a State subject.

Army and paramilitary forces are there to assist the State Government.

As such, the State Government should be held accountable for all the unwanted incidents reported from different corners of the State in the run up to the ADC election.

On the other hand, supporters of Pouthaogai, BJP candidate in 18-Longmai DCC were prevented from canvassing for around one hour as the district administration and Congress supporters raised objections at around 5 pm of May 28 .

Pouthaogai's chief agent Lungthaorei Kamei has lodged a complaint to the State Election Commission regarding the May 28 incident.

The complaint has been seeking befitting action against the district administration and the Congress supporters.