Ukhrul records 67.7 % voter turnout; Manipur Congress demands repoll in 17 polling stations, says Alfred Arthur denied to vote

Ukhrul: Disturbances at three polling stations during the second and final phase of polling process in Ukhrul, Manipur, for the ll-Outer Manipur Parliamentary Constituency, was reported in the evening, resulting in damage to Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and polling materials. Out of the 145 polling stations in the area, the following three stations were affected, as per officials.

1. Polling Station 44/2 Ukhrul (D-1) Greenland Primary School. Total Voters: 911
2. Polling Station 44/50 Ukhrul F, K.K. Leishiphanit Junior School. Total Voters: 639
3. Polling Station 44/36 Ukhrul, Model High School. Total Voters: 811

According to a report by the police, approximately 70-80 unknown miscreants forcefully entered these polling stations between 3:00 pm and 4:00 pm. These individuals proceeded to destroy the EVMs and other essential polling materials at each location.

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In another letter to the Returning Officer in Ukhrul District, a report on EVMs damage has been registered where “miscreants destroyed Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) and Voter-verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) at two Polling Stations, namely 44/36 – Ukhrul (A) and 44/41 – Ukhrul (D-1) as reported by concerned Presiding Officers at 3:40 pm.

Meanwhile, the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) has requested the Chief Electoral Officer Manipur for repoll in two polling stations under 43-Phungyar (ST) Assembly Constituency, namely Polling Station No. 43/19 – Shingkap, Shingkap Govt. High School and Polling Station No. 43/46 – Nambashi Khullen, Nambashi Kullen Govt. High School.

MPCC in the letter to CEO Manipur stated that polling materials under 43-Phungyar (ST) Assembly Constituency “were found destroyed of EVM Machines, booth captured, rigging of poll and force voted/cast of votes by unknown armed miscreants and refused to sit the Polling Agents of Shri Alfred Kanngam S. Arthur, INC Candidate.” It added that the EVM Machine of Polling Station No. 43/19 – Shingkap, Shingkap Govt. High School was destroyed by unknown armed miscreants. Whereas, “the Polling Station No. 43/46 – Nambashi Khullen, Nambashi Kullen Govt. High School was booth captured, rigging of poll and force voted/cast of votes and refused to sit the Polling Agents of INC Candidate during the poll by unknown armed miscreants.”

Additionally, in another letter to the CEO, the Manipur Congress party alleged that as many as 17 polling stations of 44-Ukhrul (ST) Assembly Constituency were interfered with, stating that these polling stations, “experienced booth capturing, rigging of polls, and forced voting, with the Polling Agents of Shri Alfred Kanngam S. Arthur, the Indian National Congress (INC) candidate, reportedly being denied entry or participation in the polling process.”

Manipur Congress also alleged that the Polling Officials and Security Personnel on duty did nothing against the unknown armed miscreants.

The affected polling stations where such disruptions were reported include:

• 44/1 – Leisan, Leisan Govt. High School
• 44/2 – Leisan, Leisan Govt. High School
• 44/3 – Sanakeithel-A, Sanakeithel Govt. High School (N/V)
• 44/4 – Sanakeithel-B, Sanakeithel Govt. High School (S/W)
• 44/15 – Tushen (A), Tushen Govt. High (N/W)
• 44/16 – Tushen (B), Tushen Govt. High (S/W)
• 44/17 – Tushen Chahong, Tushen Chahong Primary School
• 44/32 – Hundung Dungrei (B), Hungpung Dungrei Aided JB School (S/W)
• 44/33 – Hamleikhong Hundung, Hamleikhong Community Hall
• 44/34 – Hundung Kaziphung (C-1), Hungpung Kaziphung Govt. High School (N/V)
• 44/35 – Hundung (C-2), Hungpung Kaziphung Govt. High School (S/W)
• 44/45 – Ukhrul (E-2), Phungreitang East Community Hall
• 44/46 – Ukhrul (E-4), Community Hall Phungreitang West
• 44/48 – Ukhrul E (Part VI), V.P.H. Primary School (West Wing)
• 44/49 – Ukhrul E (Part V), V.P.H. Primary School (North Wing)

Candidates who contested for the lone II- Outer Manipur Lok Sabha seat are Naga People’s Front candidate Kachui Timothy Zimik, Indian National Congress candidate Alfred K Arthur and Independent candidates Alison Abonmai and S. Kho John.