Imphal, February 08: With the exception of stray incidents involving minor scuffle between voters in Senapati district, a singular case of suspected UGs disturbing polling process at Kangpokpi, gadgetry malfunctioning and non-participation in the democratic exercise by some Senapati and Ukhrul villagers, the first phase polling in 19 Assembly Constituencies spread across Thoubal, Senapati and Ukhrul districts as well as in Sadar Hills sub-division ended by and large on a peaceful note.

However, re-poll has been ordered in four polling stations of Senapati district.

The overall polling percentage, as per latest information provided by the Chief electoral Officer (manipur), is 72 percent (Likely to go up) with Senapati recording the highest turn-out of 85 percent voters, followed by Thoubal and Kangpokpi at 70 percent each and Ukhrul witnessing 63 percent voting.

While no incident of booth capturing has been reported in the first phase polling for which stringent security measures were taken up, miscreants partially damaged an electronic voting machine in Ukhrul district�s 43/23 polling station.

Voting, however, resumed at the said polling station after replacing the EVM, informed a CEO release while adding that group clashes occurred at four polling stations covered by Mao, Karong and Tadubi assembly constituencies in Senapati district.

Voters in the four said polling stations would repeat their franchise rights as re-poll has already been ordered.

Voting in 46/32 (Saikul) polling station in Sadar Hills also ceased momentarily owing to disturbance caused by UGs.

But voting resumed after a small break.

Seven EVMs had to be replaced in Thoubal district, as Ukhrul and Kangpokpi polling stations accounted for three each of the technical snag while such mishap occurred in two places in Senapati district.

Compared to nil poll related arrest or casualty, electorates in 45/39 (Chingai) polling station in Ukhrul district stayed away from the polling process with similar scene unfolding at four polling stations of Mao AC.