2 shot dead, 1 hurt as violence mars second phase of polling,Manipur

Imphal: Polling for Second Phase of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly Election ended on Saturday with 76.62 percent of the total 8,38,730 voters in the State turning up to exercise their franchise as per a report available from different constituencies up to 5 PM.

Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Manipur Rajesh Agrawal informed that of the total 22 constituencies that went to poll on Saturday, 48-Mao AC remained at the top with highest polling percentage of 86.78 percent, followed by 38-Hiyanglam AC (86.31 percent), while 52-Tamei AC witnessed lowest voting percentage (61.23 percent) reported till 5 PM. The final voting percentage will be notified after the arrival of all polling parties.

He stated that a total of 22 Assembly Constituencies including 10 in Thoubal, three each in Ukhrul, Senapati and Tamenglong, two in Chandel and one in Jiribam went for poll on Saturday. A total of 8,38,730 voters including 4,10,020 male, 4,28,679 female and 31 transgender voters are in Phase-II. There are a total of 4849 PwD electors and 480 Centenarian voters.

Out of the total of 1247 polling stations, 223 polling stations were completely manned by all women polling personnel. In 31-Thoubal Assembly Constituency, all the 40 polling stations were entirely manned by all women polling teams. There were 39 model polling stations spread across different Assembly Constituencies of six Electoral Districts in which Selfie booth and Photo Booth were also set up at 17 polling stations, the CEO conveyed.

The CEO conveyed that polling parties have started returning from their respective polling stations and EVMs have been deposited to the Strong Rooms, where three tier security systems are also being arranged for guarding the same. Security forces have been keeping strict vigil round the clock at Strong Rooms. The scrutiny of Form 17 A and other documents will be conducted by the Returning Officers in the presence of General Observers on March 6. Decisions on re-polls, if any, shall be decided accordingly, he added.

Polling in the entire valley area was peaceful. In the hill districts, there were 12 incidents of damage to EVMs by miscreants reported at 42/4, 42/13, 42/16, 42/18, 42/42 and 42/43 under 42-Tengnoupal AC, 44/64 and 44/70 in 44-Ukhrul AC, 45/26 and 45/31 under 45-Chingai AC, 49/51 under 49-Tadubi AC and 47/49 under 47-Karong AC. FIRs have been registered. The incident under Karong AC unfortunately escalated leading to serious injuries to two persons, who were immediately evacuated by chopper to Imphal for treatment. However, one of them sadly succumbed on the way. The other person is under treatment at RIMS Hospital, Imphal. The CEO expressed condolence over the demise of the deceased. There were few complaints from certain political parties and candidates during the poll. However, the majority of the issues were resolved and prompt actions were taken, he disclosed.

Repoll in 12 polling stations of Phase I Assembly Constituencies also ended peacefully with a turnout of 77.62 percent. It may be noted that one polling station each in 1- Khundrakpam and 51-Saitu, three in 56-Thanlon, five in 57-Henglep and two in 60-Singhat Assembly Constituencies went for repoll on Saturday.

Rajesh Agrawal thanked the people of the State for coming out in large numbers to exercise their democratic right in a peaceful manner, giving a real meaning to the ‘Festival of Democracy’. The CEO also thanked all the Polling Personnel, Security Personnel, Booth Level Officers (BLO), PWD coordinators, ASHA Workers and Aanganwadi workers for working tirelessly day and night to ensure free, fair, peaceful, participative, accessible and inclusive polls in the State.

Meanwhile, the second phase of polling turned deadly as two persons were shot dead by unknown persons and security forces in separate incidents while two houses of BJP supporters in Wangjing-Tentha Assembly Constituency were burnt down by suspected Congress workers.

While one BJP worker was allegedly shot dead by unknown person in Wangjing-Tentha AC of Thoubal district, one person in Karong AC under Senapati district was gunned down allegedly by security forces, sources said.

A few hours before the voting for the second phase election took place, one worker of BJP candidate from Wangjing-Tentha AC Paonam Brojen was shot dead by unidentified persons at Wangjing Wangkhei in the intervening night of March 4 and March 5 around 12.20 AM.

The deceased has been identified as Leimapokpam Amuba (25), son of Binoi of Wangjing Hodamba Maning leikai. He was shot near the gate of one Haobam Rajen of Wangjing Wangkhei last night. He was evacuated to Raj Medicity but succumbed to injuries on Saturday morning around 6 AM. He received bullet injuries on his right abdomen.

According to Moirangthem Bikash, a friend of the deceased, 15 youth including deceased Amuba were guarding the locality area of 34/10 Wangjing Hodamba Maning Leikai polling station to prevent any unwanted poll related violence in the area last night. Having heard the sound of gunshots at Wangjing Wangkhei area, they rushed to the spot. When they reached near the gate of Haobam Rajen of Wangjing Wangkhei Haobam Marak, unidentified persons from the house of Rajen fired gunshots towards them in which Amuba received bullet injuries on his right abdomen. Immediately, they evacuated injured Amuba to Thoubal District Hospital. After his condition deteriorated, he was referred to Raj Medicity on the same day but succumbed to injuries this morning.

Meanwhile, two houses belonging to one Rakesh Naorem and his brothers were set on fire by suspected workers of Congress candidate Moirangthem Hemanta on Friday night around 10.30 PM. Rakesh Naorem’s family is a supporter of BJP candidate Paonam Brojen.

The incident took place at Tentha Khongbal in Wangjing-Tentha AC. The houses were burnt down using petrol bombs. The houses belong to Naorem Tomal and Naorem Milan of Tentha Khongbal, brothers of Rakesh Naorem, a Manipuri film producer. The families are workers of BJP candidate and MLA Paonam Brojen who contested from Wangjing Tentha AC.

Wife of Rakesh Naorem is the General Secretary of BJP Wangjing Tentha Mahila Morcha while his brother Naorem Tomal is an active worker of MLA P Brojen. Their houses were burnt down for supporting BJP candidate P Brojen, the victim’s family said.

Notably, in the last Assembly elections held in 2012, 2017 and bye-election, workers of Congress candidate Moirangthem Hemanta attacked the families by firing gunshots and pelting stones.

A team of Khongjom Police Station led by its OC evacuated 17 members of the victim’s families to a safer place following the incident. The victim’s families also lauded SP Thoubal and Fire Service for their efforts put in to save their lives.

The second incident of gun firing by security personnel took place around 9.30 AM at Ngamju polling station No 47/49 under 57-Karong Assembly Constituency in Senapati district while voting for the second phase election was underway.

According to sources, one supporter of BJP candidate Jonathan Tao from Karong AC was gunned down while another got injured in firing allegedly by security forces while they were trying to snatch away the EVM machine. The deceased has been identified as one K Longvao (25), son of T Kah, while the injured has been identified as V Saope (25), son of S Vane of Ngamju village, police sources said.

Saope was rushed to RIMS ICU with one bullet injury mark on left side of the neck and through on right side of the belly, while the dead body of Longvao was deposited at JNIMS mortuary, the sources said.

Meanwhile, Ngaoni R James, election agent to BJP candidate R Yuh Jonathan Tao from 47-Karong AC has lodged a complaint with the RO 47-Karong AC demanding immediate magisterial enquiry and necessary action on the incident that took place at 47/49 Ngamju polling station.

It stated that the ill fated youth were shot at brutally by security forces deployed there for election duty without giving any proper reason and warning. Such uncivilized and inhumane acts by the security forces created chaos and danger in the region, it added.

Tengnoupal AC also reported stray incidents of poll violence at polling station of Khudei Khunou, “A minor scuffle took place at 42/29 polling station in Tengnoupal AC at around 9 AM, but the matter was settled peacefully and the election process was restored,” the DEO said.

In Nungba AC under Noney district, barely a few hours before the polling began on Saturday a voter alleged that some UG cadres came to a Congress camp around 3 am Saturday at Bwanruangh Taudaizaeng village and threatened that only 100 votes can be cast for Congress candidate. Bwanruangh Taudaizaeng village is located nearly 19 km away from Nungba HQ.

At around 2.20 PM, one NPF supporter who entered into the polling booth no 42/16 Machi Government High School broke the EVM machine. He was caught by security personnel. In another incident, one NPF supporter broke the EVM machine of 42/18 Koinaitong polling station in Tengnoupal AC at about 1.34 PM.