Allegations of booth capturing rampant
Source: The Sangai Express / Singlianmang Guite
Lamka, June 01 2015 :
With the curtains for the highly volatile ADC poll coming down, Churachandpur recorded a high voter turn-out even as the polling day was marred by violence that left at least half a dozen people injured and re-polling imminent in as many polling stations.
Violence began early in the day as some men armed with firewood attacked a polling station under Hiangtam Lamka DCC around 5.30 am, well before polling opened, triggering a long drawn clash between the supporters of an Independent candidate and a BJP nominee who were engaged in a straight fight.
Security forces managed to quell the fight but the clash continued around noon in front of another polling station with both the sides reportedly engaged in a brief stone pelting bout.
At least three people are said to be injured in the clash.
At Tuibuong DCC, clashes were reported in 14/1 Bijang, 14/3 Aijalon, 14/12 Hmar Veng and 14/13 Lhangjol.
The ballot boxes at Bijang and Lhangjol were smeared with ink apparently in an attempt to invalidate the votes forcing authorities to immediately suspend the polling exercise.
There are similar reports of a ballot box being smeared with ink at Khengjang.
Pointing fingers at each other, the Independent candidate of Tuibuong DCC Tongkholal Haokip told reporters that the INC candidate and his supporters were stationed in all the four polling booths and restricted the entry of others.
He said as he learnt about the INC supporters' conduct he rushed to verify and in the process he and his entourage were attacked with stones forcing his VDF guards to open fire.
Similarly he was attacked at Hmar Veng and his wife was rescued with several bruises on her body and a hand bag in her procession was lost in the melee, he alleged adding had it not been for the army's timely intervention things would have turned worse.
He also claimed that the INC has shifted the polling venue from Logos H/S to the chief's residence without any rhyme or reason from 14/3 Aijalon.
On the other hand, the INC candidate's election chairman SK Kipgen has petitioned the DEO to initiate action against a woman identified as Sawmching Kilong and also against Muanching, wife of independent candidate Paokholal Haokip for destroying the ballot boxes along with ballot papers and other polling equipment at 14/13 Lhangjol and 14/1 Bijang polling stations respectively.
At New Lamka, one youth showed nail marks on his neck alleging that it was an imprint left by the BJP candidate of 17-New Lamka East when he caught him by the neck.
Interestingly he was also caught on camera holding the already sealed ballot box at Blue Star Academy polling booth and walking out only to be taken back by polling officials within minutes.
At Sangaikot DCC, INC candidate Tongkhokai Baite has alleged that the Independent candidate had already captured nine polling booths on polling eve.
Petitioning the State Election Commission for a repoll, Baite further alleged that MLA Ranjit and local MLA Ginsuanhau who were heading for the area today were blocked on the way by womenfolk.
Meanwhile, hundreds of voters from Saiton Khullen turned up here in the evening in an attempt to voice their grievances for denying them the right to cast their votes.
Addressing reporters near the DC office, one Thangchungnung who accompanied a bus full of people from the Kom community claimed that they have been denied voting rights as polling officials declared there were no more ballot papers at 2.45 pm.
He said out of the 779 voters of Saiton Khullen, merely half of them had exercised their franchise when the polling was abruptly called-off.
Alleging that the Kom community has been repeatedly denied their voting rights, Thangchungnung said they met the same fate in 2010 but after petitioning the ECI their rights were restored in 2012 only to be manipulated again this year.
The polling stations that are facing imminent re-poll according to officials are Bijang, Lhangjol, Khengjang, T Boljang and Dailon.
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