Imphal: Manipur witnessed unprecedented violence during the first phase of Lok Sabha polls, with incidents of shooting, damage to electronic voting machines, and threats to voters and polling agents by armed miscreants reported from different districts on Friday.
Voting took place in the Inner Manipur Parliamentary constituency and a portion of the Outer Manipur seat in the first phase including Churachandpur and Kangpokpi districts. The voting for the remaining areas of the Outer Manipur seat will be conducted in the second phase on 26 April.
A senior citizen sustained bullet injuries when unidentified armed miscreants opened fire at Moirang Kampu in Imphal East. News agencies reported that there was chaos and commotion after gunmen resorted to firing at Thamnapokpi and Moirang in Bishnupur district.
At Thongju in Imphal East, some people destroyed the EVM alleging forcible casting of votes for a particular candidate by some armed persons. Likewise, at Iroishemba in Imphal West district, people destroyed the EVM after armed persons allegedly asked the Congress poll agents to leave the polling station. Such incidents were also reported in different polling stations across the valley districts.
Voting began at 7 am with Chief Minister N Biren Singh and his wife, Hiyainu, casting their votes at 2/16 Srivan Higher Secondary School Polling Station, Luwangshangbam Mamang Leikai.
A total of 68.62 per cent voter turnout was recorded with 72.32 per cent and 61.98 per cent in the Inner and Outer Parliamentary constituencies respectively in Manipur on Friday when the polling wound up at 4 pm.
Dr Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, Congress nominee and India bloc candidate, had a heated argument with senior police officers after Congress agents were allegedly asked to leave polling stations by unidentified armed people. The JNU teacher questioned the role of police and security personnel for not taking action when Congress agents were kicked out at various polling stations.
Even though there was no communication from the Chief Electoral Officer Manipur regarding the various violence incidents reported from different quarters, poll observers believed at least a dozen polling stations would likely have repolling later. With agency inputs
