Source: Oken Jeet Sandham / NEPS
Kohima, December 07:
Although the higher ups of the NSCN (IM) had already issued a strong warning to its cadres against involvement in the Municipal Council and Town Committee elections in the State, reports of intimidation by its cadres particularly in DC Hills, Ward No 9 of Zunheboto Town have come in.
Expressing serious concern on the reported interference of electioneering by the NSCN (IM) cadres in favor of an Independent Candidate of DC Hill, Ward No 9 of Zunheboto Town while threatening the NPF Candidate not to venture out on the polling day, the Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police of the district, during multi-Video Conferencing program held here today in State Commissioner�s Officer chamber in presence of media persons, had even urged the Commissioner, TN Manen, who is also the State Election Commissioner, to countermand the holding of election in the particular ward.
The district (Zunheboto) SP also informed Manen that they had informed the State DGP for urgent reinforcement of the existing security arrangement in view of deteriorating situation in the particular ward.
But the DGP had flatly refused to provide any additional forces, he told the State Commissioner.
He, however, requested the Commissioner to initiate with the Assam Rifles authorities to provide Assam Rifles jawans for �environmental security� during the polls especially in the hypersensitive areas.
Manen, while agreeing to look into the demand of Assam Rifles jawans, made it clear to the District Administration and Police that there was no question of countermanding the election in the said hypersensitive ward.
He told them that there might be such intimidations but it didn�t mean that the holding of election should be countermanded.
He said it was their bounden duties to �protect what is legally right� and make sure that free and fair elections were conducted.
The DC, Zunheboto, also informed that they had discussions with Sumi NGOs to prevail upon the NSCN (IM) cadres not to involve the electioneering and the polling day.
During the Video Conferencing program, Manen also interacted with DCs, SPs, and election observers of Wokha, Phek, Mon, Dimapur, Tuensang, Mokokchung and in Kiphire, SP was absent following poor health.
He also interacted with an official in NIC, New Delhi.
Although all the necessary and elaborate security arrangements have been completed for smooth conduct of the Municipal and Town Committee elections on tomorrow (December 8), the DCs and SPs from Dimapur and Mon had also placed demands to Commissioner of sending Assam Rifles jawans mostly for environmental security on the polling day.