Security steps enhanced for re-poll today
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, April 29 2024: All preparations for conducting fresh polling on Tuesday at six polling stations in three assembly segments falling under Outer Manipur parliamentary constituency, where voting could not be completed during second phase of the 18th Lok Sabha election on April 26, have been taken up with polling personnel already reaching their respective polling stations along with security personnel by Monday evening.

The six polling stations where votes would be cast afresh are 44/20 Shangshak (A), 44/36 Ukhrul (A), 44/41 Ukhrul (D) and 44/50 Ukhrul (F) under Ukhrul assembly constituency in Ukhrul district; 45/14 Chingai polling station of Chingai AC, also in Ukhrul district; and 47/33 Oinam (Al) under Karong AC in Senapati district.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) had declared votes polled in the aforementioned polling stations on April 26 as null and void and ordered fresh poll as per Sections 58(2) and 58 A (2) of the Representation of the People's Act, 1951 .

The fresh poll in the six polling stations will be held from 7 am to 4 pm Tuesday.

Notably, re-poll at the six polling stations in Ukhrul, Chingai and Karong assembly segments of Outer Manipur parliamentary constituency were recommended by returning officers (ROs) concerned citing various reasons including damage of EVMs.

As per report of presiding officer and sector officer, voting at 44/20 Shangshak (A) on April 26 was halted after 1pm due to threatening acts of some unidentified individuals while voting at 44/36 Ukhrul (A), 44/41 Ukhrul (D) and 44/50 Ukhrul (F) could not be continued after unidentified people caused irreparable damage to the EVMs and VVPAT machines.

The lone polling station in Chingai AC namely 45/14 Chingai was recommended for re-poll after the presiding officer concerned reported that voting on April 26 was affected due to technical snag in the EVM with further voting rendered impossible due to law-and-order issue.

Re-poll was also recommended for one polling station in Karong AC of Senapati district namely 47/33 Oinam (A1) after EVM and VVPAT machine of the polling station were completely destroyed by unidentified people before completion of the voting process on April 26 and accordingly the ECI ordered for fresh poll.

Meanwhile, security around all the six polling stations have been tightened with large number of central and state forces deployed to prevent any untoward incident during the re-poll and enable voters to exercise their franchise freely.

Meanwhile, our Senapati correspondent reported that polling personnel for 47/33 Oinam A-1 were despatched from District Election Office, Senapati on Monday along with micro-observer and sector magistrate.

The polling station has 309 male and 354 female voters.

More than one company of CRPF and around 200 state police personnel have been sent to the polling station for smooth conduct of the re-poll.

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