Repoll likely for two polling stations in Manipur

Repoll at two polling stations located in the interior areas of Ukhrul district is most likely to be conducted following destruction of EVMs and VVPATs by unidentified miscreants, on the day of the first phase of Parliamentary elections, said the Chief Electoral Officer PK Singh of the state.

The CEO told media last evening that unidentified miscreants on the day of the first phase of elections held on April 11 had destroyed the EVMs and VVPATs at the village of Poi and Chingai located some 5 km from Indo-Myanmar border.

Answering to queries raised by the media, he said the miscreants had entered the polling booths posing as voters at around 1.30 pm, destroyed the machines and fled the scene as the security personnel guarding outside the polling stations were not aware of the happenings inside.

Still, "the machine number have been taken note of" and that the day of the Repoll will be announced by the ECI after all necessary reports is sent to the Commission, Singh said.

He also said that an "FIR has been registered in connection with the incident" and that "police will be investigating" adding the miscreants will be caught sooner or later.

Meanwhile, BJP State president K Bhabananda has urged the CEO to conduct Repoll at several polling stations in the district of Senapati, Ukhrul, Tamemglong and Chandel alleging the militant outfit NSCN (IM) cadres did not allowed BJP leaders and "their supporters to cast their vote."

BJP also claimed 80 percent booth capture by the outfit and demanded "Repoll in 196 polling stations" spread over Naga dominated districts of the border state.

The next phase of the state's Parliamentary election is on April 18 wherein 11 candidates will be contesting for the Inner Parliamentary seat.

The day of counting is scheduled on May 23, Singh said.

By – Phanjoubam Chingkheinganba (Ching)