7 killed as 82% vote in Manipur

A woman with her child casts her vote at a polling station in Thoubal constituency on the outskirts of Imphal, India, Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012.

Imphal:In estimated 82% of the electorate on Saturday exercised their franchise in Manipur assembly elections which was marred by militant violence that claimed seven lives, including that of a CRPF jawan and an ultra.

According to reports, armed Naga rebels opened indiscriminate fire at a polling station in the hill district of Chandel after their attempt of capturing a booth was thwarted by the police and CRPF personnel.
“A CRPF jawan, one underground militant, one woman (believed to be a voter) and four polling officials were killed,” official sources said adding six persons were killed on the spot. The seventh (polling official) succumbed to injuries on being airlifted to state capital Imphal.
Besides this, polling was by and large peaceful. Seven major militant groups had jointly called for boycott of Congress in the polls.
Bombs suspected to have been planted by militants were seized and defused before the start of polling in Khurai Chingangbam area, Sawombung High School, Khomidok in Imphal East district and Naoremthong High School area in Imphal West district, official sources said.
Voting took place at 2,357 polling stations — 875 of them were termed hyper-sensitive. Around 350 companies of security personnel besides state police were deployed. There were also reports from six other places in the state where mobs damaged EVMs and in another incident miscreants snatched an EVM.
State’s chief electoral officer PC Lawmkunga said the voting percentage could go up as details from some districts were awaited.
Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh, who cast his vote early, was optimistic about a good show by Congress. “It’s in the hands of voters. We hope we’ll win,” he said.
Altogether 279 candidates, including 14 females, were in the fray. Prominent among them were NCP state chief and former CM Radhabinod Koijam, firebrand Congress minister Y Erabot Singh, Manipur Peoples Party (MPP) president Nimaichand Luwang, MPP leader O Joy and the lone minister from CPI Pheiroijam Parijat.
The Congress has fielded candidates in all 60 seats followed by Trinamool Congress - 47, Manipur State Congress Party - 34, CPI - 24, NCP - 22, BJP - 19, Manipur Peoples Party - 14, Naga People’s Front - 12, JD (U) - 5, CPI (M) - 2 and Independent - 18.
Two new features of this poll in Manipur were allowing voting through postal ballots to 197 members of insurgent groups lodged in camps under the Suspension of Operations (SOO) agreements and taking photographs of all voters exercising their franchise.