Imphal, January 21: An election observer team deputed by the Election Commission of India for the forthcoming elections was forcibly stopped by Army troops this morning at Noney while proceeding towards Tamenglong and made to return to the State capital without any explanation, according to reliable sources in the state elections office.

The election observer team and their subordinate staff were reportedly verbally abused and even manhandled by the Army personnel under the command of a captain of the 4/4 GR.

Sources said the two election observers, general observer SC Sikdar, and expenditure observer RP Pandeya were traveling towards Tamenglong along with a liaison officer and a Manipur Rifles escort when they were stopped by Army troops at a point some kilometers beyond Noney.

The Army personnel reportedly told the team to return to Noney, saying that a wireless message had been received from Noney to turn them back.

At Noney, some Army troops under the command of an Army captain pull down the drivers of the observers� vehicle, and confiscated the vehicle keys.

Despite the explanation by the liaison officer that the election observers had been assigned to Tamenglong and were proceeding to the district headquarters, the Army troops refused to let them proceed.

No explanation was offered by the security men.

The troops only returned the vehicle keys when the observers capitulated and announced they would return to Imphal.

Upon their return to Imphal, the two election observers spoke to the Chief Election Commissioner of India over the telephone and also made a written complaint asked for action against the Army personnel involved.