IMPHAL, Jan 28: Seven persons, including four poll officials and a civilian, were killed when suspected militants fired indiscriminately at Tampi Primary School when polling was underway.
The casualty also included a personnel of the CRPF team deployed there and an alleged NSCN (IM) cadre. Following the incident, the polling booth of Tampi Primary School was kept open till 3 pm but no voters turned up for voting subsequently.
Unconfirmed reports say that there were firing directed towards the polling room through the windows. The CRPF personnel retaliated and in the process were killed along with the others. Two other civilians are said to have sustained injuries in the incident.
The dead have been identified as KT Inanliu (14) daughter of R Thiuban of Teoukolang of Tamenglong district; Ksh. Premjit, son of Ksh. Biramangol Singh of Kakching Turel Wangma (poll personnel); G Adum Rongmei of Lilong Chaobok (polling personnel); Nula Behensing alias Behenson Nula son of NL Dalkhel of Chakpikarong Bazar, the alleged NSCN (IM) cadre from whom a 9mm pistol was recovered; Kh. Ibotombi Singh son of late Th Komal Sigh, Kakching Khunou Laikhong Bazaar (Presiding Officer); Constable Ugrasen Tripathi (55) son of H Tripathi of NP Road Nalbari, Assam of 155 Batallion, CRPF and PS Rakesh of Chandel Khullen (poll personnel).
Rakesh was critically injured in the incident and was air lifted to Imphal but succumbed on the way. According to the sources, the CRPF had gone to the polling stations safely along with two unarmed guard recruits who were assisting them. The CRPF personnel had gone in clusters along with other CRPF and state sector/mobile officers, with the firing incident happening around the polling station.
