Bitter pill of poll debacle sparks infighting
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 09 2011: A row among workers of a defeated Congress candidate in the recently held Nagar Panchayat elections has resulted in a tense situation at Iram Siphai in Imphal West district.

The Congress workers even pelted stones at each other.

The post poll violence erupted last afternoon and continued till late evening.

Consequent upon the violent incident, a tense situation is still prevailing in Iram Siphai area.

Ward number 9 of Wangoi Nagar Panchayat was wrested by independent candidate Yumlembam Boy alias Sanatomba after defeating his lone rival Maibam Tejmani Meitei of Congress party by a margin of just five votes.

Boy secured 294 votes against 289 votes secured by Tejmani.

Soon after the election results of the ward were announced yesterday afternoon, the disappointed Congress workers were engaged in a heated altercation.

A group of disgruntled Congress workers pulled down a Meira Paibi shed and set it ablaze at Iram Siphai Leirak Ashangbi.

The disgruntled Congress workers turned their wrath on the Meira Paibi shed as their candidate lost the election by just five votes even though there was an understanding that all the electorates of the Leirak would vote for Tejmani.

By evening, the Congress workers started pelting stones amongst themselves causing injuries to some individuals.

As the war of stone pelting intensified by evening, a team of Imphal West District Police moved in to the area and fired some tear gas shells and succeeded in controlling the charged situation.

Even though no untoward incident was reported today, the situation is still tense and volatile and police are on the alert.

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