1. Widespread disruptions occurred in Ukhrul District during Manipur’s second phase Lok Sabha Election.
2. Miscreants damaged EVMs and polling materials at multiple polling stations.
3. Three polling stations were particularly affected, impacting a significant number of voters.
Ukhrul, April 27: Amidst the Manipur Lok Sabha Election’s second phase, Ukhrul District witnessed widespread disruptions, including damage to Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and polling materials, as miscreants targeted multiple polling stations.
The chaos unfolded at three polling stations within Ukhrul, impacting a significant number of voters.
Polling Station 44/2 at Greenland Primary School, Polling Station 44/50 at K.K. Leishiphanit Junior School, and Polling Station 44/36 at Model High School faced severe damage.
Around 70-80 unidentified miscreants forcibly entered these polling stations between 3:00 pm and 4:00 pm, destroying EVMs, Voter-verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines, and other essential polling materials.
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Separate reports highlighted the destruction of EVMs and VVPATs at Polling Stations 44/36 and 44/41, exacerbating the severity of the situation.
The Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) swiftly reacted, urging the Chief Electoral Officer to repoll two polling stations under the 43-Phungyar (ST) Assembly Constituency.
They cited instances of booth capturing, poll rigging, and forced voting, allegedly orchestrated by armed miscreants, emphasizing the need for immediate action to uphold the electoral process’s integrity.
The affected polling stations, primarily under the 44-Ukhrul (ST) Assembly Constituency, reported incidents of booth capturing, poll rigging, and forced voting. Some polling agents were allegedly denied participation in the electoral proceedings.
Candidates contesting for the II-Outer Manipur Lok Sabha seat include Kachui Timothy Zimik of the Naga People’s Front, Alfred K Arthur representing the Indian National Congress, and Independent candidates Alison Abonmai and S. Kho John.
