IMPHAL, Feb 4: Amid apprehension of violence and heavy security cover, the re-poll of 34 polling stations in the five hill districts of Manipur concluded smoothly today. Re-poll in most of the districts recorded a healthy turnout.
“Polling was peaceful and we have not received any reports of violence so far,” chief electoral officer PC Lawmkunga said.
The re-polling was ordered by the Election Commission after violence was witnessed in these districts during the January 28 polls.
According to Lawmkunga, the polling stations where re-poll was conducted were categorised as hyper-sensitive and additional security arrangements were made.
“A total of 93 companies of para-military forces had been deployed there,” said Lawmkunga.
According to the latest update from the election control room, Chandel district recorded the highest number of poll percentage with 82.7, followed by Tamenglong with 80 pc, Ukhrul with 76 pc and Senapati with 70 pc while Churachandpur recorded a low turnout of around 53 pc.
Tampi polling station in Chandel contituency where seven people were killed during the January 28 elections recorded a phenomenal 98 poll percentage.
Due to apprehension after violence in the January 28 elections in the five hill districts, heavy security cover was provided in all the 34 polling stations for smooth and peaceful voting today. Independent reports said as part of the security arrangement, 106 companies of central paramilitary companies alongside the district police and the Assam Rifles were deployed to prevent any untoward incident. As part of the preventive measures employed, the election department also continued with photography of electorates to prevent proxy voting.
Meanwhile, three helicopters has been stationed on standby to transport the EVMs and polling officials to the district headquarters of the 5 hill districts of Ukhrul, Chandel, Senapati, Tamenglong and Churachandpur. Counting of votes will be held on March 6 for the 34 polling stations along with the rest of the polling stations where polling was held on January 28.
Details from Senapati district were kept on wait for several hours due to a break-down in BSNL network and incidents of anti-social elements damaging OFCs at many points.
Meanwhile, in a poll related incident, a team of 31 AR launched an operation at a house just one metre from the Myanmarese international border, suspecting the presence of individuals likely to disrupt re-polling. According to AR, the team cordoned off the house but the search party was greeted with gun fire from three individuals in the house who started fleeing towards the Myanmar’s side. One of them was arrested along with a 9mm pistol and live rounds. On interrogation, the individual revealed himself as an over ground worker of CoCom.
Poll is a survey of public opinion from a particular sample.
Opinion polls are usually designed to represent the opinions of a
population by conducting a series of questions and then extrapolating
generalities in ratio or within confidence intervals.