Mail News Service
Imphal, Jan 28: Seven persons, including a woman were killed in a shoot out inside a small polling booth that ensued between poll security personnel and suspected militants at Chakpikarong in Chandel district of Manipur which went to poll today.
The victims are identified as Kh. Ibotombi, Returning Officer of 41/40 Chakpikarong Constituency, a Secton Officer (SO) of PWD Chandel, hailing from Kakching Khunou in Thoubal district, Rakesh Ukundung Anal, Kshetrimayum Premjit of Kakching Turel Wangma, Behenson of Chakpikarong, U. Tripathi, personnel of 155th battalion of CRPF F-Coy, hailing from Uttar Pradesh , Adum Rongmei and Khihmanlue Rongmei.
One .20 pistol was recovered from the slain assailant, police said.
The incident happened at around 12 30 pm Saturday at a polling booth of 41/40 Chakpikarong in Chandel assembly constituency when three suspected militants suddenly appeared and tried to force themselves inside the booth but the CRPF personnel manning trhe booth prevented them. The police said, in no time the gunmen opened fire at the poll booth killing six persons and injured three of them. One succumbed while he was being shifted to Imphal, according to the police source. The source said a CRPF retaliated with several rounds of fire from his AK-47 assault rifle. Eye witnesses said the other security personnel manning outside the polling booth also resorted to fire at the assailants through windows. In the incident three polling personnel including one Returning Officer, one CRPF jawan belonging to 155 battalion of F-Coy, one suspected militant and one woman voter. Another polling personnel was also wounded in the exchange of fire who later succumbed, making the toll to seven.
In some polling stations, voters were seen casting their votes till night. The poll percentage till four p.m. was 75%. In some polling stations, the voters could not cast their vote due to non functional of EVM.
The counting of votes which will decide the fate of the candidates will be started from March Six at their respective Ro’s office.
In a poll related violence six persons including a CRPF man were killed when some persons numbering about 20 fired at a polling station number 41-40 of Dampi Village under ChakpiKarong PS this afternoon around 12.45 p.m.
As the armed persons suspected to be NSCN (I/M) fired at the PS where the voters were in queue to cast their vote, the CRPF personnel of 175th battalion also retaliated the firing. The deceased CRPF man was identified as U. Tripati.
The other five victims included three polling personnel, a voter and a cadre of NSCN (I/M).One nine mm pistol having three rounds were seized from the cadre of NSCN (I/M).
In other poll related violence, some persons damaged electronic voting machine of polling stations 41/23 and 42/56. The EVM of 42/50 Netaji memorial School Moreh was damaged.
Some unknown captured the booth of polling number 45/54, Ringhui Tinggere, Chingai. The EVM of 45/19 PS tousem and 42/39 Tengnoupal were also broken. The unknown persons attempted to capture booth and damage EVM in various polling stations.
Tension also prevailed at Tadubi area as large number of voters tried to cast their vote simultaneously at PS 49/15, 49/16, Security personnel on duty fired as some persons tried to capture booth at PS no. 49/20 of Tadubi, Senapati district.The situation was brought under control.
The NSCN (I/M) cadres also damaged polling stations of Kongkhang, Laiching Meenou, Khunbi Khuou of Chandel district. In another incident NSCN (I/M) cadres kidnapped polling agents of PS 53/22 of Tamenglong.The total number of voters was 17,41,581 including 8,58,390 male voters . A total of 279 candidates including 15 women were in the fray. At Phungyar two women candidates were in the fray. Straight fight were witnessed at Kakching and Moirang.
This time the number of service voters is 8723 . Special arrangements were made to enable militants under suspension of operations (SOO) to vote in 16 designated camps hence polling were done in 2357 polling stations and 8 auxiliary polling stations in Churachandpur and Ukhrul district.
A total of 11,825 polling personnel were put in service while 19 general observers, nine police observers and 12 expenditure observers monitored the election process. A total of 2365 EVMS were used and EVMs were kept ready to be dispatched in case there is any case of machine failure.
Five helicopters were used for election purposes.
Of the total number of voters, Muslims comprise 8 per cent, Scheduled Tribes 36 per cent and Scheduled Caste less than one percent while the rest are Meitei.
The Congress party has projected 60 candidates, Trinamul 47, Manipur State Congress Party, 31, CPI 24, NCP 21, BJP 19, MPP 14, CPM 2 and Independents 60.
Chandel AC has the highest number of polling stations at 69 while Singjamei AC has the lowest number of polling stations at 23. With 52,128 voters, Mao AC has the highest number of electorate whereas Tipaimukh AC has the lowest number of voters at 17,487.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/fates-of-279-candidates-sealed-in-evms-seven-killed-at-chandell-81-percent-poll-percentage-recorded/
