TODAY -
Amid obstructions, ADC polling ends
Over 15 hurt in poll clash; two kidnapped
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, June 02 2010: At least 15 people were injured in clash among the workers of Congress and Independent candidates in the fray in ADC election at Khongjarong constituency in Tamenglong district, and youth leaders of two villages were reportedly kidnapped by boycott supporters in Senapati district as the second phase election to the ADCs in three hill districts amid boycott and bandh.

The staggered 2nd phase Manipur (Hill areas) District Council elections concluded in Tamenglong, Senapati and Ukhrul where Naga based civil societies boycotted the elections conducted under the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council (3rd Amendment) Act, 2008 .

Polling for the second phase was conducted in three Naga dominated hill districts of Senapati, Tamenglong and Ukhrul district starting from 7 am today despite the boycott called by the ANSAM, UNC and their frontal organisations.

It went on till 3.30 am.

The polling was held in 30 out of 72 ADC constituencies as lone candidates in the 36 constituencies declared elected uncontested while no candidate filed nominations in six constituencies in Senapati district.

A total of 81 candidates are in the fray.

Official reports said that polling in around 30 out of total 183 polling stations, mostly in interior Tamenglong district, could not be held today as polling personnel along with the security could not reached to their respective polling stations owing to disturbances on routes they were to take to reach the stations.

As for instance, due to the burning down of a belly bridge on the road to Tamei on IT road connecting the sub-division of Tamenglong district by suspected boycott supporters, polling personnel with their escort had backed from the midway and reached Kangpokpi, official reports said.

Over 15 people injured when a clash between workers of the Congress candidate and independent candidate at Khangjarong polling station in Tamenglong district even as president of the village youths' body in Senapati district.

The clash between the workers of the Congress candidate at Khongjarong polling station was occurred at about 7.30 am, at the start of the polling.

Many of the injured people have been evacuated at district hospital in Tamenglong, police report said here.

Except the clash, no other untoward incident reported during the polling hour in other polling stations, officials on election duty at State Election Commission here in Imphal said.

Till late this evening, the final report of voter turned out could not received due to bad communication coincided with remoteness of the polling stations, official who expected final poll percentage by tomorrow said.

However, they said that large turned out of voters reported in most of the polling stations even though no voter or few voters turned out in some of the polling stations in Noney area of the district.

At Noney area on the side of the NH-53, womenfolk stayed out of the elections and staged a sit-in protest on the roadside to register boycott to the election.

Ahead of the commencement of polling in Senapati, presidents of village youths' bodies of Phaibung and Tungam villages were kidnapped by suspected boycott supporters allegedly for defying their diktat to stay away from the elections, police reports said.

They were kidnapped by around 10 miscreants last night apparently as warning to the villagers not to come out and participate in the elections today, police said.

Houses of two Congress candidates who were elected uncontested were also ransacked by miscreants suspected to be boycott supporters last night.

The damaged houses belong to RK Kaba, elected uncontested from the 20-Purul ADC constituency, and Jacob from Ngari Khullen ADC constituency, police said.

Despite the threats, boycott and bandhs, 60 to 80 % turn out of voters in some polling stations reported in Senapati district even though no voter casted vote in some of the polling stations.

In Ukhrul district, the voter turn out was remarkably low and not a single voter casted vote in some polling stations, reports said.

Our Ukhrul Correspondent, Angam Shatsang added that the 72-hour total bandh called by Tangkhul Co-ordination Committee (TCC) started from midnight of May 31 is going on peacefully till today.

The bandh was called by the TCC under the directive of the United Naga Council (UNC) in opposition to the Autonomous District Council election (ADC) 1972 Act which was amended in 2008.During the bandh the entire Ukhrul town wore deserted the street, all shops, government offices, both private and government school /institutions were remain closed, public and vehicular movement were absolutely restricted by the volunteers, there was also road blockade found in Imphal � Ukhrul roads by unknown persons which is 20 kms away from the town.

Amidst total bandh the ADC election was conducted in the district commencing from 7 am and went on till 3.30 pm.

Presiding officers in different polling stations said that they were given enough security, BSF and state police to guard the poling stations during the poll hour.

However, none of the voters came up for voting in most of polling stations.

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