Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 12:
The CPI candidate in Kumbi AC, N Mangi has alleged that a worker of the party has been kidnapped by Congress workers and handed over to underground activists apart from threatening to kill any person who cast their vote in favour CPI candidate at polling station no.29/19-Wangoo (D) of the same AC.
A complaint to this effect has been lodged by CPI candidate N Mangi with the District Election Officer, Bishnupur urgoing him to take up necessary action against Congress candidate S Bira Singh.
According to the complaint, the CPI worker identified as Ningthoujam Loken Singh (37) s/o N Babuchand Singh of Wangoo Sandangkhong was collecting signatures of the voters (non-EPIC) at Wangoo Makha Leikai in connection with preparing Voter Identity cards for the ensuing Assembly election at around 8.50 am today when three Congress workers namely Loitongbam Goverdhan, Loitongbam Muhon Singh, both residents of Wangoo Makha Leikai and Irengbam Sobha Singh of Sadangkhong Khullakpat came along with many other people from Wangoo Makha Leikai and beat up Loken severely before handing him over to the underground activists.
The Congress workers have also threatened that any voter who cast their votes in favour of CPI candidate from polling station 29/19 -Wangoo (D) would be killed, the complaint said.
Meanwhile, addressing a press conference in this connection this afternoon at Irabot Bhavan today, Mangi came down heavily against the action of the Congress workers and expressed apprehension of an ugly development in Kumbi AC if the detained CPI worker is not released at the earliest possible.
He further charged that on February 3, Congress workers had intervened when his supporters were erecting/hoisting flags of the CPI at the residences of his party supporters.
It was only after the officers of the concerned authorities notified that hoisting of flag and putting up banner or pasting posters can be carried out with the consent of the house owners concerned that hoisting/erecting of party flags could be carried out on February 5, he informed.
Even then in the night of the same day, Mangi informed, Congress workers went on rampage hacking the flag-posts and tearing the flags and beating up CPI workers.
Atleast three CPI workers sustained injuries in the attack including one whose eardrum has been torn and another whose chest ribs have been broken, he said.
�My workers have been observing the model code of conduct of the election while campaigning unlike candidates of Congress, MPP, NCP and other respective workers who have been resorting to violent means�, Mangi charged.