Imphal, April 16 2009: SNATCHING OF EVMs by suspected underground elements at some polling stations located close to the district headquarters has been reported even as the the first phase polling across the Outer Manipur Parliamentary constituency has concluded this evening.

The polling was by and large peaceful.

The State Election authority has recommended re-polling of at least three polling stations, said the CEO today.

The overall turn out of voters was 70.20 percent.

The poll percentage is likely to increase as final reports from the far-flung areas in the hill districts are yet to be received by the CEO's office.

Re-polling of at least three polling stations has been ordered so far.

The counting of votes will be held together with that of Inner Manipur parliamentary constituency which will go to the polls in the second phase on April 22 .

Reporters who went round in some of the polling stations in the hill areas observed casting of votes by a few persons at most of the polling stations instead of the voter himself or herself.

Reporters saw a village chief casting votes for the electors of his village in front of the presiding officer.

The incident was witnessed at 47/54 at Karong in Senapati district.

One Lunin presided over the the polling at that station.

Two persons with an electoral list and another person pressed the button on the EVM to cast votes for a particular candidate.

Those electors who came to exercise their franchise were kept under control by a group of men.

In some instances, a voter cast votes five or six times.

When asked about the irregular casting of votes, the presiding officer pointed toward the village chief to signal to ask him the questions.

The said polling station is located in the heart of Senapati district headquarters.

No armed security men were deployed at the said polling station but some policemen with batons were found seating in the shade of the trees.

No other polling agent except that of PDA was seen there.

A group of reporters also detected such type of casting of votes by some people in place of other voters at various polling stations.

At one of the polling stations, at 41/13, a person seating near an EVM with the voters' list was found casting votes for the rest of the voters.

The presiding officer said that it was being done as the voters have no knowledge of pressing the button of the EVM to cast vote for the candidate of his or her choice.

At the polling station, only the agents of PDA and BJP candidates were seen.

When asked no satisfactory reply could be obtained from the polling officials.

At the poling stations 42/19, 42/28, only PDA candidate's agents were at the casting place but the polling was seen with tight security across the seven Assembly segments in Thoubal district with armed security men.

Armed security men were not used in most of polling stations in the hill areas.

At 20/30 polling station also one man was found casting the vote for all electors residing the jurisdiction of the station.

No voter was seen nearby the polling station.

Even though ECI announced video coverage to the polling station, in these polling stations no such arrangements were seen.

Armed security men were not detailed in the polling stations located in the hill areas.

No communication facilities were provided to the presiding officers.

Latest report available with the CEO office indicated 80 percent turn out in Chandel district, Jiribam sub-division 53 percent, Churachandpur 90 percent, Senapati above 80 percent, ADC Kangpokpi 80 percent and Thoubal district 65 percent.

The final report for Ukhrul and Tamenglong districts are not yet confirm here in the CEO office.

Disturbances by the suspected militants have led to the suspension of the casting of votes at four polling stations in Senapati district, one each in Tamenglong Ukhrul and Kangpokpi ADC.

Concerned district returning officers have recommended re-polling in these polling stations, official reports received here said.

Normal casting of votes at four polling stations located in Koide village of Senapati, 47/1, 47/2 at Koide High School and 47/3 and 47/4 at Christian High School were disturbed by around 10 suspected militants who attempted to take away the EVMs this afternoon at around 2 pm.

Reports said that the miscreants who intruded into polling station on the pretext of electors and tried to cast all the remaining votes in favour of the candidate of their choice which polling agents of the other candidates in the fray strongly protested.

Later, the miscreants destroyed the EVMs by throwing outside the polling station.

The helpless presiding officer reported the matter to the RO of the district who ordered immediate stoppage of polling for re-poll in another day.

The polling at 53/9 located at Tamenglong headquarters had suspended at around 11 am today as some suspected militants tried to take control of the EVMs from the presiding officer in a bid to cast the votes in favour of the candidate they allegedly backing.

Two to three miscreants entered to the polling stations and tried to cast votes which resulted into a heated argument among the polling agents of the candidates.

During the melee, the miscreants also tried to snatch away the EVMs.

During the course the EVMs was damaged.

Amidst the chaotic situation inside the polling station and unable to control the situation, the presiding officer suspended the polling and approached the district RO, the DC of the district for re-polling in another day.

When the matter was about to return to normalcy, poling agent of the Congress vanished from the site even though RO herself arrived at the spot and took stock of the situation.

On the recommendation of the presiding officer, the RO ordered immediate suspension of the polling which was disturbed at the first hour of its commencement.

Security forces also rounded up a man who involved in the fracas and handed over to the police for further action.

There were reports of disturbing the polling at two more polling stations, one each at Tengnoupal in Chandel district and Nungsang in Ukhrul district at the closing hour of the polling.

So far, state CEO announced re-polling to three polling stations, one each at Dolong Khunou of Saitu A/c in Senapati, Nungsang in Ukhrul district and at a polling station at Tamenglong district headquarters.

The overall poll percentage was high as 50 at 1 pm with highest turned out recorded at 70 percent in Churachandpur district and the lowest turned at Jiribam sub-division of Imphal east included in the Outer constituency with only 35 percent.

The seven assembly segment of the Thoubal district which is also included in the Outer Parliamentary constituency recorded 50 percent turned till 1 pm.

Fifty-five percent of the voters turned out to exercise their votes in Senapati district, Kangpokpi sub-division of Senapati district recorded 58 percent turned out, 55 percent in Tamenglong district, 50 percent in Ukhrul and 65 percent in Chandel distirct.

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