EVM smashers held, 5 hurt in post-poll attacks
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, March 06 2022:
Tengnoupal police has registered a case against all the six people arrested in connection with their alleged involvement in smashing EVM at 42/13 Saibol polling station under Tengnoupal assembly constituency during the second phase polling of 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly on Saturday.
According to a police source, some NPF workers entered the polling station at about 1pm and damaged EVM after threatening polling personnel but all of them were nabbed by security forces deployed at the polling station and handed them over to Tengnoupal police station, which later registered a case against them.
The arrested NPF workers are identified as KJ Kopham (25) son of KJ Mosel of Leibi village, Mothil Kansowa (35) son of Morung Konsowa of Kharou Khunou, KT Kojong Maring (26) son of KT Morung of Leibi village, K Merungkham Maring (22) son of late Peter of Leibi village, CH Meran (39) son of CH Menai of Leibi village and K Prakash Maring (45) son of late Kodou of Leibi village.
Tengnoupal police has registered FIR against all of them under IPC Section 147/149/171-F/427/447/506/34 in addition to Section 134-B/135/135-A of RP Act 1941 and Section 3 of PDPP.
All the arrested persons were produced before the court of CJM Chandel through video conferencing and remanded to police custody till March 9 for further questioning.
Meanwhile, at least five people were injured when some people suspected to be BJP workers indulged in violent act including thrashing of innocent people and damaging vehicles on Saturday around 10.30pm near 33/3 Lairongthel polling station in Heirok assembly constituency.
The injured victims persons been identified as Okram Roman Singh, son of O Achou of Malom, and his younger brother Khogen Singh; and Laishram Dallu Singh Meitei, L Boy Meitei son of late Dhananjoy and Haobam Raju Singh - all from Lairongthel.
The attackers destroyed three Maruti Gypsy vehicles, one Creta car, one Maruti 800, one Mahindra Scorpio, one Hyundai i20 and two Honda Activa.
Regarding the attack, locals held a public meet at Lairongthel ground on Sunday and strongly condemned the unprovoked act of BJP workers.
Wangkhem ZP nominee member Kh Sobha also attended the meeting.
During the meeting, one Ningombam Shyamo Singh said that voting at 33/3 Lairongthel polling station was conducted peacefully from early morning till 10.30pm.However, a team of BJP supporters led by BJP candidate and ex-minister Th Radheshyam numbering around 40/50 people came to the polling station and started clapping and shouting that BJP has won the election.
Later, the same team of BJP workers including the candidate started beating up locals while shouting that all Congress workers must be killed without sparing even women and children.
The attackers also fired several rounds in the air, Shyamo recalled, and strongly condemned the brutal act of BJP supporters led by the candidate.