15 people wounded in post-poll incident at Uchiwa
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 15 2017: An agent of Ward Member candidate of the recently concluded 5th Panchayat Election has alleged that a group of people fired upon supporters of the candidate namely Begum at Uchiwa Ward No 1, Imphal West on October 9 leaving 15 people injured .

Levelling the allegation in a press meet held at Manipur Press Club yesterday, the election agent identified as Md Amzad Khan claimed that the attackers were the supporters of the rival candidate Zubeda Bibi .

He said that some of the injured persons are undergoing treatment at JNIMS, RIMS and Shija Hospital .

15 people wounded in post-poll incident at Uchiwa<

He alleged that a group of people led by five individuals namely Md Salauddin, Md Basiruddin, Md Iboyai, Md Wahid and Md Salam came near the residence of Begum on October 9 morning and fired several rounds towards the supporters of Begum .

He admitted that there were scuffles between the two rival groups on the polling day after an individual namely Md Salauddin who supported Zubeda Bibi tried to open the ballot box at the polling station .

The incident was also reported to the concerned Presiding Officer.

The matter was settled at the spot, he said .

Later in the morning of October 8, one Md Rafiq, another supporter of the rival candidate arrived at a camp opened for Begum and asked three of the supporters to go along with him to compromise and settle the issue.

As soon as they reached the place, the supporters were rounded up and held hostage for hours.

Supporters of the rival candidate asked them to either give five postal ballots, Rs 5 lakh or Amzad Khan .

The polling agent contended that the three elders were released later on the day at around 7 pm after they were made to sign on a paper and asked to hold a talk on October 10.However, on the day a group of people who supported Zubeda Bibi came and fired several upon Begum's supporters causing injury to 15 people .

Saying that a complaint was filed at Mayang Imphal police station in connection with the incident but no action has been taken up against the attackers so far .

Following the incident, supporters of Begum have stopped sending their children to school out of fear, he said .

He urged the concerned authority to look into the matter seriously and also demanded a clarification from the supporters of Zubeda Bibi in connection with the incident.