Locals torch election flying squad vehicle
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 27 2017: Locals of Khundrakpam burnt down a Tata Sumo vehicle used by a team of election flying squad, on suspicion of fake election officials and collecting information of some individuals who are allegedly involved in ransacking of an INC election camp.

The incident took place at Sambri, Imphal East today at around 3 pm.

The vehicle belongs to Veterinary Department and has been used by an election flying squad for election-related works.

According to the locals who prevented police personnel from proceeding towards the incident site, a team of election flying squad came in three vehicles when they were holding a meeting at YVO ground against the firing of tear gas shell by police yesterday in which a seven- month old infant sustained injuries.

They said that the flying squad team took a photograph of the meeting and went to an INC election camp where the latter collected information of some persons who are allegedly involved in ransacking of the camp at Khundrakpam.

The locals asked the election officials why they were collecting the information by forcibly going to the place and to produce identification proof which they failed to do so.

They then contacted women folks of Sambri and asked to stop the vehicles.

The women folks managed to stop one of the vehicles while the two remaining fled the scene.

The locals claimed that they detained two election officials who came on the Tata Sumo.

The two election officials who were later rescued by police termed the allegations levelled against them as baseless, clarifying that only two vehicles went to the area to collect information of some individuals as per a complaint filed against the ransacking of an INC election camp.

They further clarified that they have nothing to do with the meeting of the locals.

The election officials said that the meeting was held at a ground near the camp after which they contacted the concerned Returning Officer and went to the camp.

They claimed that just when they were about to leave the place, one person ran towards the meeting site and all of a sudden a mob came towards them.

They thanked those local elders who took them to a safer place along with police personnel.

They appealed to all to not give such kind of disturbance to election officials who are working hard for holding the forthcoming Assembly election.

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