Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, June 01 2010:
Polling personnel of 33 polling stations are yet to reach at their respective polling stations even as the polling for the second phase in three ADCs of Senapati, Ukhrul and Tamenglong districts is to start from 7 am tomorrow.
Chief Minister, O Ibobi today reviewed the law and order situation of the state particularly in three districts where spate of pre-poll violence like the dismantling of houses of candidate witnessed with his Cabinet minister, top brasses of the security set ups including the state DGP this evening.
Officials and security forces guarding them were reportedly not able to reach the places were they were assigned in 33 polling stations due to the disturbances by the NSCN (IM) cadres and their supporters who caused damages to the roads and bridges, they are to take in reaching the poling stations, reports said.
Authority of the state election commission is on hectic efforts to identify the polling stations where polling officials could not reach for consideration of re-scheduling the polling with additional security forces in latter days.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister, O Ibobi today, during a review meeting, has directed the state DGP and Central security set ups to take up appropriate measures to protect life and properties of candidates of the ADC considering the series of attacks by the boycott supporters.
Government has also started considering for providing assistants to the ADC candidates whose houses had been dismantled or damaged by the miscreants, official source said.
On the other hand, in the escalating pre-poll violence in Naga dominated hill districts today also house of a candidate in Senapati district was dismantled by miscreants suspected to supporters of boycott to the ADC elections.
Tribal Development minister, DD Thaisii has also met with the candidates of the ADC who are taking refuge at State Youth Centre and Youth Hostel at Khuman Lampak.
The minister met with the candidates today, at about 10.45 am, and reportedly discuss problems facing by them when they were diktat to retire from the candidature by various civil societies supporting the decision of UNC to boycott the elections.
District-wide bandhs imposed in the three districts called with an intention to thwart people participation in the elections as part of boycott of have also commenced from last midnight in the three districts.
After nine houses of candidates in Ukhrul districts were dismantled by masked miscreants on Monday, one house of a candidate in Senapati district was also dismantled by suspected ADC election boycott supporters last night, police report said.
The house of Congress candidate RK James who had been declared elected uncontested from the Phuba ADC constituency of Senapati district was dismantled by the miscreants in the wee hour, between 12 am to 1 am, last night, the police report said.
No casualty to the family members of the candidate reported in the violence act of the miscreants.
Miscreants also set on fire a newly constructed building of the Kathikho UJB School located one and half kilometer away north of Karong police station of Senapati district in the intervening night of May 31 and June 1 .
The school building which is yet to utilize had been totally razed to the ground, the police report said adding that suspected boycott supporters had burnt down the building by pouring kerosene oil.
In Tamenglong district also after pushing down three vehicles of polling personnel heading to Tamei for the poll duty, windshields of around 10 vehicles belonging to the IRB personnel to guard the polling stations have also been smashed in stoning by the boycott supporter.
The pushing down of vehicles into the gorge and smashing of windshield took place while the polling personnel with the state IRB personnel were negotiating to cross a bridge damaged by the boycott supporters, reports said.
On the other hand, life in the three hill districts have also been crippled owing as the district bandhs imposed by district based civil bodies of the respective districts in support of the UNC boycott to the ADC election.
UNC is boycotting the elections held under the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council (3rd Amendment) Act, 2008 terming act has against the interest of the hill people.
The All Naga Students Association (ANSAM) is also imposing economic blockade on the national highways passing through the state demanding defer of the election until amendment to Act is effected.
The economic blockade started from April 11 has entered 50th day today.
Vehicles of all kinds were stayed off the road.
Schools, colleges and government offices and shops and other establishments were also remained close for the day owing to the bandhs, reports from the three districts added.
Meanwhile, in the midst of boycotts, state election department has completed all preparation for the smooth conduct of the poll which will go on from 7 am till 3.30 pm of tomorrow in 30 ADC constituencies out of which 20 are in Tamenglong district, four in Ukhrul and sis in Senapati district.