Newmai News Network
Imphal: Incidents of violence marred the first phase of two-phase Lok Sabha elections in Manipur in which the voting took place at 2107 polling stations spread across two Parliamentary constituencies on Friday.
Incidents of gun violence that foiled the voting processes also left at least four persons including an aged old person with bullet injuries besides physically assaulting a couple.
The firing incident that injured a 60-year-old man identified as Khoisnam Sanayaima occurred at a polling station at Moirangkampu Sajeb under Khurai Assembly constituency of Imphal East district around 3:30 pm.
With bullet injuries on the right side of his back, he was rushed to Raj Medicity hospital, North AOC, Imphal. He was at the polling station to cast his vote.
Reports said that a group of armed miscreants who came in a car opened fire at the polling station while the voting was in progress after they were allegedly denied entry inside the polling station.
In the aftermath of the firing incident, irate locals stormed the polling station and vandalized all the polling materials including the EVMs which around 80% of the voters had already cast before burning down the materials.
The helpless polling officials along with the security personnel on duty at the polling station left the spot immediately.
Meanwhile, in a swift action of the police commandos, three persons allegedly involved in the firing incident were apprehended after a brief chase from Chingarel area. The details of the arrested persons could not be ascertained immediately from the police.
Reports of miscreants in combat fatigue and armed with sophisticated weapons also disrupted voting processes in several polling stations across the valley districts.
The voting processes at some polling stations under Thongju Assembly constituency of Imphal East were disrupted by the armed miscreants who allegedly tried to overpower the polling officials and security personnel with an alleged intention to indulge in proxy voting while the voting was just started.
When the locals objected, the armed miscreants opened fire several rounds of guns before leaving the spot after ransacking the voting materials. They also destroyed CCTV cameras installed at the polling stations.
There was no casualty in the incident except damaging some vehicles including four-wheelers.
With tensions running high, top officials of Imphal East district police including the SP himself arrived at the spot and took up necessary security measures to allow the voting to continue in a smooth manner.
At the same time, the voters declared that they would not go by threats and intimidation while exercising their franchise. They also demanded re-poll even as the voting was resumed after the situation was put under control.
Similar incidents of armed miscreants disrupting voting processes at several polling stations were also reported in Imphal West and Bishnupur districts.
In one of the gun firing by the armed miscreants at a polling station at Thamanpokpi under Moirang Assembly segment of Bishnupur district, three persons were injured.
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