Turn out pegged at 85 pc in Ukhrul
Source: The Sangai Express / Mungchan Zimik

Ukhrul/Imphal, June 01 2015 : Polling today for the ADC election in Ukhrul district was punctuated with incidents of rigging, proxy voting, booth capturing and other poll related violence at some polling stations while suspected militants abducted Worthing Mahung, Ukhrul district BJP president.

The overall turn out was pegged at 85 pc.

Strongly condemning the abduction of its president, the Ukhrul district BJP has appealed for the safe and immediate release of Worthing Mahung.

More reports of violent incidents are expected from far flung and isolated polling stations.

Capturing of votes reportedly took place at Shingkap and Sharkaphung polling stations, according to a source.

At the same time, about 70 polling parties have returned to the district headquarters while most of the polling parties are understood to have moved out of their stations.

Polling was by and large said to be peaceful and successful at Phungyar, Kamjong, Chingai and Kasom Khullen polling stations.

Meanwhile, several curious newsmen were today subjected to questioning by some persons at 15/7 (A) and 15/8 (B) Sanakeithel polling stations under Tongou District Council Constituency of Ukhrul district besides debarring them from entering the polling stations.

Media persons were asked as to who authorized them for such news coverage.

Though State security forces were deployed in the area, proxy voting was evidently rampant at 15/7 (A) Sanakeithel polling station.

15/7 (A) polling station has 787 voters while there are 388 voters at 15/8 (B) .

Meanwhile, at 15/3 Ringui Ramhon polling stations of Tongou DCC, there was sign of proxy voting as the works of polling officers were reportedly taken over by other persons.

The polling station had only two polling agents, one for an Independent candidate and another for the NPF candidate.

Four candidates were contesting the poll in the DCC.

The polling station has a total of 162 voters.

Surprisingly, one inner agent at the said polling station was kept under house arrest by unidentified underground group until the polling hours were over.

"This is an indication that the poll was not fair," stated a voter.

At 15/1 (A) Ringui there are a total of 623 voters and there are 567 voters at 15/2 B Ringui.

Further, official report said that in 16-Zalenbung DCC, cadres of underground groups resorted to rigging and proxy voting at three polling stations namely Molam, Molnom and Zalenbung in the wee ours of today morning.

Irate villagers of Molam broke the ballot box and found that 90% of their votes had already been cast in favour of a candidate, stated the source.

At Lunghar polling station of Khamasom DCC, a candidate reportedly coerced the villagers to cast their votes in his favour thus igniting a scuffle.

The poll was said to have been delayed for one hour.

A minor scuffle was also reported at Khangkhui.

Proxy voting and rigging were also reported at Tuinem and Somdal.

However, it is still not clear where repoll will conducted in how many polling stations.

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