Violence mars Phase-II, man succumbs to bullet Injury
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, March 05 2022: On the other hand, voting at polling station 42/59 Moreh ward number 3 under Tengnoupal A/C was stopped for some time after the EVM developed technical snag but resumed after corrective measures.

Meanwhile, some BJP supporters obstructed INC agents from entering polling stations 34/9 and 34/10 set up at Wangjing Hodamba Primary School and veterinary compound of Wangjing Tentha A/C.On the other hand, INC supporters allegedly thwarted BJP and NPP agents from entering polling station 34/1, 34/2, 34/3, 34/4, 34/5, 34/6 and 34/7 located at Tentha Makha Leikai.

Political parties are accusing each other of disturbing free and fair election processes in many places.

However, details of these incidents are awaited.

Men, women and first-time voters in large numbers queued up in front of the polling stations well before the voting started at 7 am in six electoral districts.

According to officials, more than 20,000 Central paramilitary force troopers have been deployed in the second phase in the six electoral districts � Thoubal, Jiribam, Chandel, Ukhrul, Senapati and Tamenglong.

Of the 92 candidates, 17 have criminal antecedents, the election official said.IMPHAL: Violence marred the second phase of election to the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly conducted on Saturday with incidents of scuffle, abduction and vandalizing of EVMs, man succumbing to bullet injury and some people sustained injuries reported from different constituencies where the polling was held.

Compared to the first phase election to the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly held on February 28 which was limited to sporadic incidents of violence, besides complaints of booth capturing and threat to voters, the second phase polls on Saturday ended with at-least two persons dead and few others left injured.

As per reports available here one person was killed and another injured in police firing at a polling station under Karong assembly constituency in Senapati district while a BJP activist succumbed to injuries in the Thoubal district.

The Karong incident occurred when police opened fire after some people attacked the polling personnel and snatched an EVM from the polling station.

In another incident in Thoubal district, some BJP workers reportedly went to the residence of a Congress worker late on Friday night and after an altercation, the Congress worker opened fired at the BJP activists injuring a few of them.

One of the injured persons succumbed to his injuries on Saturday in a hospital.

Election and police officials said that activists of political parties clashed in Mao, Moreh and other places, halting the polling briefly.

Security personnel deployed for duty at 47/49 polling station Ngamju UJB School under Karong assembly constituency in Senapati district tried to stop miscreants who tried to snatch EVM by firing at them; causing bullet injuries to two people, one of whom later succumbed to the injuries.

The deceased person has been identified as K Lomgvao (25) son of T Kah of Ngamju village and the injured person as V Saope, son of S Vane from the same village.

The firing was preceded by a scuffle between rival groups around 8.30 am on Saturday over the allegation of proxy voting.

The CISF personnel deployed for duty initially fired in the air to control the situation.

However, as some people tried to snatch the EVM amid the melee, the security personnel fired at them causing bullet injury to K Lomgvao and V Saope.

Lomngvao succumbed to the injury while V Saope was airlifted and brought to RIMS hospital for treatment.

Following the incident, polling process was halted at 8.30 am and later resumed.

Terming the incident as unfortunate, Senapati DC Mahesh Chowdhury informed that a magisterial enquiry will be initiated.

Conveying that the polling officials who were on election duty in several polling stations of the district have already returned, he confided that there were few incidents of vandalising EVMs in the district.

Mahesh also lauded the candidates in the district for making the poll a success.

Reports of scuffles were also received from polling station 36/6 Irong Khunou and 36/24 Keirak-B under Wabagai A/C; 48/43, 48/44 and 48/45 at Saranamei under Mao A/C over the issue of proxy voting and injuries suffered by some people.

Voting was disrupted for some time at polling station 42/3 under Tengnoupal A/C as chief and secretary of Keinou Khong village was abducted by some unknown people.

Similarly, suspected NPF supporters reportedly adducted two NPP agents from polling station 53/2 located at Atong Guining village under Tamenglong A/C, where the polling process was halted for some time.

However, it was resumed later.

According to police reports, several cases of vandalising EVMs also occurred in the second phase of election.

Suspected NPF supporters vandalised EVM at polling station 42/43 Khambang Khullen, 42/42 Rilram village, 42/16 Machi-A, 42/18 Konaitong Primary school and 42/13 Saibol Primary School under Tengnoupal A/C.Consequently, the election process was disrupted for some time.

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