Imphal, October 13: Despite the boycott call given by the Apunba Lup and the general strike, Konthoujam AC witnessed brisk polling amongst heavy security bandobast today.

The voter turn out was recorded at a healthy 89.44 pc, according to reports from the office of the Returning Officer.

Though polling was by and large peaceful, an unsavory incident unfolded at polling station 18/27 at Awang Moijing when MSCP candidate Angom Manihar slapped the presiding officer.

Thereafter a ruckus broke out with the voters turning their ire against the candidate.

Polling was stalled for about one hour at this booth.

The candidate along with some his supporters came to the polling station and bull dozed their way through and tried to resort to proxy voting.

The candidate and his supporters even punched the EVM machines.

The incident took place at about 7.45 am.

Voting resumed only at 9.25 am.

Presiding officer S Raghumani said that though the candidate tried to snatch the EVM machines, timely intervention of the security personnel ensured that nothing went wrong with the election process.

A written complaint has been submitted to the Returning Officer, he added.

As reported earlier in The Sangai Express all the polling stations were manned by the BSF and no State security personnel were allowed to enter the booths.

Undeterred by the boycott call and the general strike a large number of voters could be seen coming out to cast their votes.

People could be seen coming to cast their votes from the early hours with long queues seen everywhere.

However at polling station number 18/15 Khaidem Upgrade Junior Basic School, polling did not take off till 11.30 am as no voter turned out.

Polling agents and presiding officers said that the voters of that particular polling station did not come out early due to the general strike.

Moreover the presence of so many armed personnel must have intimidated them, they opined.

However after 12 noon voters came out and polling was held briskly.

Though minor confrontations took place at some polling stations, polling was by and large peaceful.

As the day progressed, the voting turn out increased appreciably.

At about 1 am the vote percentage recorded was about 50 pc and this rose to 65 pc by 3.30 pm.

As proxy voting started doing the round, BSF men deployed at polling station 18/13 had to personally check the fingers of the voters to ascertain facts.

Many were turned back.

Leaders of the ruling coalition front as well as the Opposition bloc could be seen going around the Constituency canvassing support and encouraging the voters to turn out for the election.

Returning Officer L Heramani said that no report of any major any major violence has been received and ruled out repoll.

The EV machines and election material have been transferred to Imphal and security has been beefed around the place where the polling materials are kept.

Counting for the by election will be held on October 16 from 8 am at office of the Imphal West DC.

Counting trends may start coming out from 11 am of the same day.

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