Imphal, March 19 2009: To sensitise the people and ensure peaceful conduct of the Lok Sabha election to the Outer Manipur Parliamentary Constituency which would go to poll on April 16, Chief Electoral Officer Shambhu Singh today personally visited Moreh and Tengnoupal sub-divisional headquarters in Chandel district and interacted with the people at public meetings.

Speaking at these meetings, the CEO made it clear that Photo Electoral Roll and Elector's Photo Identity Cards would be used during the two-phase election in Manipur.

The public meeting was organised by district administration with the objective of ensuring smooth conduct of the election which would also be held at the border town on April 16. A similar meeting was also held at the Tengnoupal Govt High School today.

The meeting chaired by the CEO was attended by Deputy Commissioner of Chandel Divesh Deval, SP K Radhashyam, ADC Moreh Lunminthang Haokip, Deputy Commandant of 2 MR N Satrajit who is also the Officer of the Election Control Room, Second-in-Command of 21 Assam Rifles Col VS Parmar, district level officers, village chiefs, public leaders and representatives of NGOs.

After deliberation, the meeting decided to set up a Standing Committee with ADC Moreh as chairman to closely monitor whether Model Code of Conduct of the election is observed in Tengnoupal AC or not.

Addressing the meeting, the CEO announced that use of Photo Electoral Rolls and Elector's Photo Identity Cards would be compulsory in the two phased Lok Sabha election in Manipur and accordingtly the Photo Identity cards would be distributed among the electors very soon.

In response to questions raised by the apprehensive public on whether electors who do not possess Photo Identity Cards would not be allowed to exercise franchise, the CEO allayed the fear by assuring that necessary measures have also been put in place to allow such electors cast votes as well.

However, as for the electors who have already been issued Photo Identity Cards, they would not be allowed to vote without showing their Identity Cards, the CEO added.

He also appealed to the electors to report in time if the are subjected to intimidation from any quarters in connection with the election so that necessary action could be taken up.

Police have also been entrusted to take up necessary steps towards ensuring proper observance of the Model Code of Conduct of the election, the CEO informed the gathering.

The CEO also called upon the people for co-operation in ensuring peaceful conduct of the poll so that others could emulate the same and treat polling personnel and security personnel on duty nicely and properly.

DC of Chandel District informed that meeting that in connection with the upcoming Lok Sabha election in Chandel district, in all 57 polling stations have been identified as sensitive, 18 other as hypersensitive and another 47 polling stations as normal.

Further, the DC disclosed that the polling materials of 16 polling stations would be airlifted.

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