IMC poll concludes with 83% overall turn out of voters
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, May 25 2011: At least four persons including a woman were injured today in a clash between BJP and Congress workers at Mahabali Rongmei LP School polling station in Imphal east, even as the election to the Imphal Municipal Council went off peacefully by and large.

Reports said the clashes occurred around 3.30 pm when Congress workers reportedly shouted at the occupants of a vehicle (Bolero) of the BJP candidate in the 19/9 (Mahabali Kabui) ward.

BJP candidate Yumlembam Ratikanta alias Boy was traveling in the vehicle.

In the ward, Ratikanta is pitted against the Congress candidate RK Bina Devi.

Police on duty nearby the polling station resorted to firing at least five rounds in the air to disperse the crowd which has gathered near the vehicle.

The situation was brought under control after additional police forces rushed to the spot to disperse the crowd.

All the injured persons were residents of Mahabali Kabui village.

G Sumitra (28) daughter of Landulupu Panmei sustained injuries in her head in her efforts to protect her younger brother, Maja Gangpu (25), in the fracas.

Both sustained injuries in the head and were hospitalized at JNIMS, Porompat.

Others injured were Lamla Golmei (50) and his son Rocky Golmei.

They suffered only minor injuries which needed no hospitalization.

Voters in the Imphal Municipal Council went to the polls today.

The overall turn out of voters was recorded at 83%.As per report available from the election authorities, out of a total of 1,62,304 voters, 1,34,703 exercised their franchise in today's polling.

Out of the total 1,14,512 voters across 19 IMC wards in Imphal West district, 95,028, that is 83.53%, cast their votes in 175 polling stations.

In Imphal East 47,792 voters representing 82.99% of the total of 39,675 voters exercised their franchise in the polls which was conducted in 66 polling stations.

Polling started from 8 am and was supposed to end by 4 pm.

However, polling went on till late evening in some polling stations because of heavy voter turn out.

Voters who turn up after 4 pm and were not inside the polling station areas were not allowed to cast votes.

Except for the clash that was reported at Mahabali Kabui Khul, no other untoward incident was reported during the voting hours.

With presiding officers of all 241 polling stations reporting to their respective Returning Officers with poll materials including ballot boxes, the fate of the 92 contesting candidates for councillors and 214 ward development members have been kept sealed.

The IMC covers the seven Assembly constituencies of Wangkhei, Yaiskul, Sagolband, Singjamei, Khurai, Uripok and Thangmeiband around Imphal town.

The vote is being watched as an indicator of public support for the ruling Congress prior to the general election to the state Assembly which is likely to be held in the early part of 2012 .

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