Bailed Dr Lamtinthang raises allegations
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 01 2022: Shortly after his release by Duty Magistrate Kangpokpi late last night, Congress candidate in Saitu seat Dr Lamtinthang Haokip has urged the Election Commission and Chief Electoral Officer, Manipur to conduct a re-poll at 51/46 New Keithelmanbi.

Dr Lamtinthang of Kholep village Kangpokpi was arrested yesterday on the charge of destroying EVM and other polling material.

Notably, Dr Lamtinthang Haokip was given bail by the Duty Magistrate Kangpokpi late last night.

He was produced before the Duty Magistrate last night by a team of New Keithelmanbi police station along with a prayer for a five day police custody remand.

The defence counsel, on the other hand, filed a remand objection and prayed for bail.

Bailed Dr Lamtinthang raises allegations

The Court on perusal of the case record and after hearing both the parties directed to release Lamtinthang Haokip.

In a statement, Dr Lamtinthang appealed to the Election Commission and Chief Electoral Officer, Manipur to take swift actions against the perpetrators so as to uphold democratic values.

The Congress candidate claimed that armed militants under Suspension of Operation (SoO) snatched voter slips from the villagers on February 27 in Saitu Assembly Constituency and used them to vote for a particular candidate.

Further claiming that Congress supporters were also not allowed to enter the premises of the polling area on the day of polling (February 28), Dr Lamtinthang alleged that INC polling agents submitted a complaint to the Presiding Officer for the malpractices.

The INC polling agents submitted another complaint as the polling officer didn't register the first complaint, he claimed and alleged that he was allowed to enter the particular polling station after a few minutes.

"I was detained for a few minutes though I showed my ID card," he claimed and alleged that the polling officer was nowhere to be found when he entered the polling station.

The EVM, unfortunately was vandalised by the irate mob, possibly those whose voting rights were denied, the Congress candidate claimed.

Clarifying that he is not responsible for the ruckus whatsoever, Dr Lamtinthang alleged that the entire scene can be checked from CCTV footage.

Further claiming one CAPF personnel also threatened to shoot him instead of controlling the mob, the Congress candidate stated that a team of New Keithelmanbi police took him to New Keithelmanbi Police Station before transferring to Imphal police station.

The FIR was filed at New Keithelmanbi Police Station he said and asked on whose direction he was brought to Imphal police station.

He claimed that all the unlawful activities were pre-planned and carried out at the behest of a BJP candidate under the guidance of his son and another person who is an Assistant Teacher under Sarva Siksha Abhiyan (SSA) and a research scholar at NEHU, Shillong.

He also claimed that the Officer-in-Charge of New Keithelmanbi police was seen talking to the BJP candidate through a mobile phone.