Imphal, April 27: Taking serious note of the reported interference of the NSCN (IM) cadres in the recently held elections in the Outer Parliamentary Constituency, the Union Home Ministry has asked the State Government to take up fitting action if any of the reports can be substantiated.

Disclosing this to The Sangai Express an official source today said that the Union Home Ministry took serious note of the whole thing after some political parties and the State Govt submitted complaints to the Centre and the Election Commission of India, that the NSCN (IM) had directly interfered in the poll proceedings in the Outer seat election held on April 26.Without beating around the bush, the Centre has instructed the State Government to take up action according to law if the cadres of the NSCN (IM) are found interfering in the poll process, said the source and elaborated, that the instruction made it clear, that the security forces may arrest, shoot or take up case if any of the IM cadres are found directly interfering in the election process.

Following the instructions from the Union Home Ministry, a high level meeting with Chief Secretary AP Sharma in the chair was held at the Officers' Club today to discuss the strategies to be taken up to ensure that the repoll and rescheduled polls pass off peacefully without any untoward incident.

The meeting was attended by the State Chief Electoral Officer V Chhibber, Security Nodal Officer, ADGP Y Joykumar, officers of the CRPF, BSF and Assam Rifles.

The instructions from the Union Home Ministry were minutely discussed at the meeting, said the source further.

As per the instructions from the Home Ministry, the meeting decided to take up fitting action against any organisations which try to disrupt the smooth conduct of the election.

When The Sangai Express contacted the chairman of the Ceasefire Monitoring Cell retd Lt General Kulkarni, the former army officer said that his office has not received any such instructions from the Centre.

He declined to comment stating that the matter is very complex and sensitive.

The official source said that tight security would be taken up for the rescheduled poll to be held at 64 polling stations at Tamenglong district: No room would be given to anyone to disrupt the smooth conduct of the rescheduled polls.

The polls were rescheduled, at these polling stations as rain and the inclement weather had stopped the polling officers in reaching their place of duty on time.

Security personnel have been despatched to Barak and New Kaiphundai to clear the landslides there to ensure that the repoll at 8 polling stations in Jiribam AC and 13 polling stations at Bangai Range in Churachandpur are held smoothly.

The repoll is scheduled to be held on May 5.If vehicles cannot reach Bangai Range on time, then the polling personnel would be made to trek their way through to their place of duty along with security personnel, said the source.