Seven persons killed in shoot out inside a polling station
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, January 28, 2012: At least 7 persons including three polling personnel, one CRPF personnel, two voters including one woman and one suspected cadre of NSCN-IM were killed in a shoot out which occurred inside a small polling booth between suspected cadres of NSCN-IM and poll security personnel at Chakpikarong in Chandel district of Manipur, today.

Out of the three polling personnel killed, one of them was a Presiding officer.

He has been identified as one Khumukcham Ibotombi (50), s/o late Kh Kamal Singh of Kakching Khunnou Ngaikhong Leikai.

He was a Section Officer in the State Public Works Department.

The other deceased polling personnel have been identified as Kshetrimayum Premjit (50) s/o Ksh Biramangol of Kakching Turel Wangma and Adim Rongmei (50) of Lilong Chaobok.

The woman voter who died in the incident has been identified as one Khihmanlue Rongmei (55) w/o Ming Trivon of Thampi Village.

The other civilian voter who died in the incident has been identified as Mota of Chandel Khullen.

The deceased CRPF personnel has also been identified as U.Tripathi (45) of CRPF F-Coy, 155th battalion, hailing from Uttar Pradesh.

And the suspected NSCN-IM cadre has been identified as Behenson Nulha (40) s/o Dolkal of Chakpikarong.

Another two women were also injured in the incident though the identity of the injured could not be ascertained as yet.

It has been reported that all the deceased and the injured have been brought to Imphal in a chopper.

The incident occurred at around 12:20 am Saturday at polling booth 41/40 Chakpikarong in 41Chandel A/C when three suspected militants suddenly appeared and tried to force themselves inside the booth but the CRPF personnel manning the booth prevented them.

Police source said that in no time the gunmen opened fired inside the poll booth killing six persons and injuring three others.

One succumbed while he was being shifted to Imphal, according to the police source.

The source also said that the CRPF personnel retaliated with several rounds of fire from his AK-47 assault rifle.

Eye witnesses said that the other security personnel manning outside the polling booth also resorted to firing at the assailants.

One .20 pistol was recovered from the slain assailant, police said.

Meanwhile, suspected PLA cadres ambushed security personnel who were coming along with EVMs between Saivol Village and Kharou Centre at around 8pm today.

No casualty has been reported, according to police source.

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