IMPHAL, Jan 29: INC candidate for 47-Karong assembly constituency, DD Thaisii has alleged that normal polling procedures have been violated at various polling stations under Karong assembly constituency.
Addressing media persons at Manipur Congress Bhavan, Thaisii claimed that there was mass booth capturing by NSCN-IM cadres and called for a re-poll.
He said, “I am aware of instances where Naga People’s Front (NPF) supporters NSCN-IM intimidated voters to cast votes in favour of the NPF. The norms and guidelines laid down by the Election Commission of India that one person can cast only a single vote and that the person should be photographed were violated. There were cases in which one voter was made to vote for the NPF more than once.”
Thaisii further alleged that when his polling agents complained verbally regarding the “booth captures”, the presiding officer failed to pay attention to the complaint made by the polling agents due to threats from the NSCN-IM. “But the facts can be ascertained from the photograph records collected by the polling officials under the supervision of presiding officers. They will show that large scale of impersonation also took place forcefully by the NSCN-IM”, he said.
He further added that in case the presiding officers failed to record the photographs of the voters which is mandatory and if they cannot produce the save, it can be presumed that large scale impersonation had taken place.
Saying that 18 polling stations had witnessed intimidation and casting of votes without photographic documentation, Thaisii said that a re-poll should be held in the said locations.
He also alleged that armed cadres of NSCN-IM fired several rounds from sophisticated weapons at Koide Village on January 28 at 11 am.
Thaisii also said that INC candidate supporters, namely Z Dahrii, s/o Zozii, member of village authority, Phaibung Khullen Village Senapati and S Thoulu, s/o Sam, vice-chairman of Phaibung Khullen Village Authority were shot on the legs on January 29 at 4 am.
At the time of filing this report, the two persons were brought to Imphal for treatment of their bullet injuries. However, the treatment of the injured persons will be done at a private clinic despite RIMS being designated as a treatment and trauma centre for election related casualties.
DD Thaisii himself said, “I wanted them to have better health care facilities. They are going to private clinics for their comfort.
PK Joseph of Oinam Village who is said to have been beaten up brutally by supporters of NPF candidate on January 26 is also in the ICU of a private clinic in Imphal.
