Tension erupts at re-poll in Ccpur
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, May 31 2010: High tension surfaced at two of the polling stations in Churachandpur district where re-poll was conducted with 12 other polling stations today.

The re-polling was conducted with heavy security deployment in 14 polling stations.

But tension rose up in Dampi and Seiton poling stations when a group of people mostly womenfolk tried to the stormed the polling station on the charge of mass proxy voting by preventing electors of another tribe.

Meanwhile, a memorandum was submitted to the Chief Minister, O Ibobi complaining against the alleged prevention of voters belonging to Kom community at Dampi and Seiton polling station where re-polling were conducted with other 12 polling stations in Churachandpur district.

Voters showing I-cards saying that they were barred from voting

In the memorandum signed by 74 persons, all villagers of area, it was strongly charged that apart from preventing the voters of the tribe from casting votes, booths were attempted to capture by the supporters of independent candidate Tongminthang Lungdim.

They also urged for re-poll in the stations once again.

While drawing the attention of the Chief Minister to intervene in conducting re-poll, they charged that about 560 ballot papers were found already stamped in favour of independent candidate in the ballot box before the poll begin inspite of the polling officers being guarded by armed security personnel.

At the Saiton polling station also voters of Kom community from Moirang Mathak were asked to vote at the end by turn and when their turn comes up, they were told that there were no ballot papers while in Tuiningphaisen polling station, independent candidate disturbed and burnt down the ballot papers.

Our Churachandpur Correspondent, Joseph Joute reported from Lamka that the re-poll at 14 polling stations, 3/2-Phaibong, 3/3-Songkhong, 3/4Khanpi, 3/5-Napphou, 3/7-Songphu, 2/1-Kungpinaosen, 2/3Tokpa Kabui, 20/3-Saiton Khullen, 20/7-Tuiring Phaisen, 20/8-Dampi, 21/4-Tonglhang and 12/10-Mata Lambulane, 14/8-Sielmat, 1/6-Khousabung, was over peaceful quoting official sources.

However, due to bad weather and road conditions, only polling personnel of only three polling stations managed to reach.

The three polling stations reached the district headquarters with poll materials with turned out record of voters.

At the 2/14-Tonglhang with 90% turned out record, 12/10-Mata Lambulane recorded 95% and 20/3-Saiton Khullen at 95.18% .

2/14-Tonglhang was where gunmen capture the polling materials and set it on fire after the personnel were on their way to submit report to the DEO on May 26 .

The rest of the polling personnel are expected to reach by late in the evening or night time, added the source.

In the meantime, the district administration has recommended a repoll for three polling stations in 7-Vangai assembly constituency.

The polling stations where repoll to be held are 7/4-Suangpehmun, 7/6-Buangmun and 7/12-Kangrengdawr. The polling personnel from Vangai reach the town today and report submitted to the District Election Officer/DC, Churachandpur.

It maybe mentioned that the election materials and polling agents were to be airlift by an Indian Air Force helicopter but could not land due to bad weather and the personnel come by land routes despite the bad weather in the interior areas, said one polling agent.

As all result could not be heard and repoll to be held in some polling stations, the overall performance of the district could not be ascertained as of now, said monitoring cell of the electioneering.