Poll watchdogs advised to examine CCTV footages
Source: Chronicle News Service / Sagolsem Bigyan

Imphal, March 07 2022: Columnist and retired IAS officer RK Nimai said that the election authority should review CCTV footages to find out alleged malpractices during the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly constituency and conduct re poll wherever necessary.

Speaking to The People's Chronicle in relation with the violence that occurred during the polls, RK Nimai maintained that the recent election to the state assembly could not be termed as free and fair, and the festival of democracy was heavily commercialised.

In the past elections, there were reports of booth capturing in hill areas but today, reports of similar incidents are coming in from different parts of valley area too.

The first phase of election was free from any major incidents though there were instances of minor scuffles and booth capturing.

However, the second phase of election was more violent with deaths and injuries reported.

Instances of pre-poll violence also increased substantially this time and the main reason behind such violence is commercialisation of election in the race to power, he observed.

In the past, candidates and their workers Conveniently calculated votes based on the money they spent.

But today, working out PRACTICES votes based on money spent by the candidates is becoming a challenging task with increasing number of educated youths, who would accept the cash but cast their votes to the candidate of their choice or to NOTA.

Considering the violent incidents, charges and counter charges raised by different candidates and political parties, the election authority should review the CCTV footages of the polling stations to find out malpractices so that re-poll could be Conducted.

The authority can also take up legal actions against the presiding officer(s) if there were no CCTV footages, he said and added that taking up such necessary steps will prove helpful in making future elections free and fair, he added.

Meanwhile senior journalist Pradip Phanjoubam asserted that the government is responsible for the election-related violence that occurred in the state while calling the Biren government as a 'failed government' .

Involvement and interference from UG groups have been hampering the democratic process in the hill areas for long.

However, there is no interference from UG groups in the valley area and the violent incidents occurred in the valley area due to increasing number of armed individuals.

District magistrates had issued orders for depositing licensed gun before the election and tracking compliance of the said orders should have been accorded importance.

Even if the government had collected licensed guns, violent incidents occurred still and it shows possession of unauthorised firearms among the public, he said, adding that not taking up appropriate legal actions against those having lethal firearms is a failure of the government.

On the other hand, RTI activist Joykumar Wahengbam maintained that all the violent incidents that took place during the recent assembly election are pre-planned violence.

Though the public wanted free and fair election, the candidates in fray and their hardcore workers derailed the democratic process.

Unless this unhealthy trend is stopped, there will be more deaths in the future and the public will despise election just like fake encounters.

Besides, there is nothing to expect as all the candidates spent huge amount of money in the election and there will also be post poll violence, he added.

Mention may be made here that the election to the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly was full of violence.

In the run up to the election, a student named Ningthoujam Rohit was killed in Heirok assembly constituency and his father Premchandra and another person named Kh Rajesh were injured on the intervening night of December 21 and 22 following which DC Thoubal imposed curfew in Heirok.

Special Investigation Team arrested siting MLA Th Radheshyam's younger brother Thokchom Bishwarjit alias Putro (46) son of Ibochouba along with five others in connection with the incident.

Th Radheshyam, while defending his brother, said that he will retire from active politics if his brother is found guilty.

There was also an incident of life attempt on NPP's intending candidate from Langthabal assembly constituency Karam Nabakishore alias Basanta on the intervening night of December 31 and January 1 .

Abujam John and Abujam Tomba of Samurou Awang Leikai were also killed on January 10 and CM Biren himself had expressed possibility of political instigation behind the murder.

Incidents of bomb attack also occurred at the house of NCP candidate for Khurai AC Khuraijam Ratankumar on January 12, NPP candidate for Khurai AC Laitonjam Jayananda and INC candidate for Wangoi AC Salam Joy at Naorem Chaprou.

BJYM president M Barish also allegedly fired several rounds in Bishnupur district and a person, who identified himself as a representative of RPI candidate for Keishamthong AC Maheshwar Thounaojam was arrested for stealing ballot paper.

Violent clash between workers of NPP candidate for Andro AC Lourembam Sanjay and BJP candidate Thounaojam Shyamkumar occurred on February 19 in which Sanjay's father L Shyamjai and Shyam-kumar's driver Takhellambam Thoibimacha suffered gunshot wounds.

Police arrested 12 people in connection with the incident.

On the day of phase-I polling on February 28, there were violent incidents in different parts of the state.

One Leimapokpam Arun of Tentha was killed one day before the phase-II election while a person named K Longvao was killed and another named V Saope wounded when CISF personnel deployed for poll duty opened fire at Ngamju polling station in an incident of hijacking EVM machine.

Besides, several violent incidents also took place in different parts of the state on the day of phase-II election on March 5 .

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