Imphal: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has ordered repoll in 12 polling stations on March 5. Rajesh Agrawal, Chief Electoral Officer, Manipur said the ECI has declared that the poll taken on February, 28 at 12 polling stations is void.
The hours of the poll will be from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Polling for 38 Assembly constituencies were held on Feb 28. The proposal for re-poll in these polling stations was recommended based on the facts and information received/reported from respective Returning Officers. One of the main reason for consideration of re-polling was connected to the damage of EVMs by miscreants during and after the poll, he said.
These kind of incidents lead to major discomfort to the electors of the polling station as their right to franchise gets infringed on the poll day and they will now need to come out again to exercise their rightful franchise on the day of repoll, he added. The 12 Polling Stations going for re-poll are 1/20-Sarouthel (1-Khundrakpam AC), Imphal East; 51/46- New Keithelmanbi (51-Saitu(ST) AC), Kangpokpi; from Churachandpur District – 56/5-Songsang, 56/10-Maite and 56/19-Tinsuong (56-Thanlon (ST) AC); 57/20- Majuron Kuki, 57/31-N.Chingphei, 57/34- Khoirentak, 57/39- Molsang and 57/49- Leinom (57-Henglep (ST) AC); 60/36- Teikot and 60/43- Maukot (60-Singhat (ST) AC).
Meanwhile District Police, Churachandpur arrested a person namely, Onjalal Kipgen of K. Phaijang on March 1 for causing damage to EVM the CEO said. In another incident, District Police, Kangpokpi also arrested an accused namely, Manggoulun Haolai of Mollen, Kamsei Village, Ukhrul District causing damage to VVPAT machines on poll day at 46/54-Leplen polling Station. He was arrested near Leplen Primary School on the day of poll, he added.
Chief Electoral Officer, Manipur also expressed condolence over the demise of an India Reserve Battalion (IRB) constable namely, K Lalawmpuia in an accident on March 1 at Tamenglong district. He also prayed for the speedy recovery of other people injured in the accident. Late Lalawmpuia, who hailed from Zion Veng in the Champhai district of Mizoram, was posted at 2nd Battalion IRB, Mizoram.
The IRB personnel from Mizoram were part of the security forces which had come for duty to Manipur for the State Assembly Election. They were travelling from Mizoram to Manipur for the second phase polls on March 5 when they met with an accident near Tamenglong College.Â
