All polling stations for re-poll categorised as hyper sensitive
Re-poll in 34 P/Ss in 5 hill dists on Feb 4
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, January 31, 2012: With various complaints reaching the ears of the Election Commission of India (ECI) regarding cases of proxy voting, booth capturing and vandalizing of EVMs in many polling stations in the recently held State Assembly Election, the ECI has decided to conduct re-polls in 34 polling stations of the five hill districts of Manipur on February 4. Announcing the direction of the ECI to conduct re-poll in 34 polling stations of five hill districts of Manipur on February 4, PC Lawmkunga, Chief Election Officer (CEO) Manipur said that re-poll will be done in 34 polling stations of Chandel district, Ukhrul district, Senapati district, Tamenglong district and Churachandpur district.

The polling stations of Chandel district include 4 poling stations each in Chandel A/C and Tengnoupal A/C.The polling stations are 41/23-Modi, 41/27-Unupat, 41/31-Larong, 41/40- Tampi, 42/8-Khunbi Khunou, 42/50 Moreh D, 42/58- Moreh H and 42/60- Moreh I (Part-IA).

The nine polling stations in Chingai A/C under Ukhrul district include polling station number 45/41- Tora, 45/44- Somdal A-I, 45/45-Somdal A-II, 45/46-Somdal B, 45/49-Tuinem A-I, 45/50-Tuinem A-II, 45/54-Ringui, 45/56-Ngaimu-A and 45/57-Ngaimu-B.The eight polling stations in Senapati district include one polling station in Mao A/C (48/22-Makhel) and seven polling stations in Tadubi A/C which includes 49/15-Mao Pundung (A), 49/16-Mao Pundung (B), 49/17-Chawainamai Khullen (A), 49/18-Chawainamai Khullen (B), 49/19-Chawainamai Khunou, 49/21-Makhan Centre (A) and 49/22-Makhan Centre (B).

The polling stations of Tamenglong district include two in Tamenglong A/C (53/3-Sonram and 53/22-Duigailong), one each in Tamei A/C (52/41-Azuram) and Nungba A/C (54/9-Chakanglong).In Churachandpur district, the polling stations in Tipaimukh A/C are 55/01-Chingmun and 55/29-Senvon B.In Thanlon A/C the polling stations are 56/3-Savaipaih and 56/8-Phaipheng and in Thanlon A/C the polling station where the repolling will be held is 57/36-Phuoljang.The CEO also said that on receiving reports of the polling stations where cases of proxy voting, booth capturing and vandalizing of EVMs were evident, from the concern Returning Officers and Presiding Officers, the State Election Office sent a proposal to the ECI for re-poll in these polling stations.

The ECI after carefully going through the proposal finally approved conducting re-poll in the 34 polling stations.

He also pointed out that all the polling stations where re-poll will be conducted have been categorised as hyper sensitive and accordingly security arrangements will also be done, and said that two sections of Para military forces will be deployed in each polling stations.

For this purpose 93 companies of Para military force will be arranged and 13 companies of Para military will also be deployed in the areas where the EVMs are to be kept.

He further said that software to check and compare the photographs of the electorates in the electoral rolls and the photographs of the voters taken during the time of casting votes will be developed.

The process will be started by next week.

Regarding the compensation paid to the polling personnel who are victims of election related crimes, PC Lawmkunga said that there is a provision to give them an amount of Rs 10 lakhs.

As such the polling personnel who have died in their line of duty has been paid the said amount by the ECI.

He also said that an amount of Rs 42 lakhs have also been spent for buying mobile phones for capturing the photos of the electorates.

Since this process is new for the polling personnel, they faced some problems, he admitted.

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