Imphal, February 19: Five days before the six Assembly Constituencies in the CCpur district go to poll, Churachandpur appears to be witnessing its own share of political violence as it has now come under a spate of vandalism, intimidation and accusation, reports our correspondent S Guite.

Thangso Baite, INC candidate in Singngat AC last night alleged that five of his workers including a central executive committee member were apprehended and tortured by UZO volunteers at Singngat village on Saturday.

Gindoulian 44, executive member in Thangso Baite�s election committee stated at a press conference that some 20/30 volunteers detained him and four others at Tuinuam village, 8 kms SW of Singngat while heading for Behiang.

Their belongings, I-card, agent form for 5 polling stations and electoral roll were allegedly seized by their captors and were tortured for about one and a half hour in the jungle blind folded.

They were let off only after they agreed to sign a document declaring that they will not enter the region until the polls were over.

Unlike in other cases, the captives and their candidate denied any involvement of armed groups in the skirmishes.

Instead, the captives who were handed over to the lone police personnel at Singngat Police station and acquire on Sunday from the custody of the Assam Rifles, categorically stated that it was a handiwork of none but UZO volunteers.

Hangkhanpau, the candidate who has already claimed that his supporters were intimidated and tortured by INC supporters and the KNA cadres, today witness a stream of atleast sixty three womenfolk from Songpeh area under Sangaikot TD block, inside his residential campus.

These women claimed that they were sent by the village chief to get back their husbands and sons, who had escape their home and took refuge in the residence of Hangkhanpau, the NPP candidate in Singhat AC after the armed men took reign of their villages.

Relatives of these women, about eighty in number however were anxious of returning as they were of the opinion that the womenfolk were here under duress and that the armed men who had already terrorize them can again act anytime and at will.

At his home turf in Saikot AC, TN Haokip today encounter a grave accusation from his counterpart, M Chungkhosei Haokip, as he was formally being accused of conspiring with KNA cadres in vandalizing LJP office and issuing threat to the voters at least on three instances.

Speaking to the press today, Chungkhosei claimed that his office at Monglienphai village was vandalized and his worker injured, by armed KNA cadres last night at around 7pm.He also alleged that armed KNA cadres with attire similar to IRB uniform last night threaten atleast 13 chiefs in Dampi area and 26 chiefs in Vaison area of dire consequences if their respective villages failed to vote in favour of TN Haokip, INC candidate, after summoning them.

They even open fired within the premises of Jamkholun, 76 chief of Dampi, rendering the aged man unconscious, he alleged.

Terming the incidents as unfortunate, Chungkhosei today claimed that he had no amenities with any armed group nor collude with them and said he considered TN Hoakip not as an enemy but as a colleague.

He also downplayed the allegation TN Haokip and his cohorts were levelling against him in regards to the Joint Administrative building and term the contention that he had received 40 lakhs rupees from T Phuzathang as baseless.

�I�ve never talked to Phungzathang nor discuss anything with him; it was TN Haokip who had said �you can build the Jt.

administrative building anywhere as long as I get the contract works� he said.

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