IMPHAL, Feb 2: Polling and security personnel on re-poll duties at 34 polling stations across five hill districts have started heading for their respective district headquarters today before splitting latter for their assigned locations.
Of the eleven assembly constituencies where re-poll were necessitated, Chingai in Ukhrul district leads with the maximum number of polling stations at nine while Tadubi in Senapati have seven. Chandel and Tengnoupal constituencies in Chandel district have four each, while in Tamenglong district EC has ordered fresh polling will be held in two polling stations in Tamenglong and one each in Tamei and Nungba. In Churachandpur district, fresh voting will be held in two polling stations each in Tipaimukh and Thanlon and one in Henglep. The remaining polling station going for re-poll belonged to Mao constituency in Senapati district.
All the 34 polling stations have been categorized as hyper-sensitive and accordingly, heavy security arrangements are being put in for the re-poll, according to official sources.
In the January 28 polls, 350 companies of paramilitary force, including police personnel from other States were used in the State. At least five security personnel in election duty were killed in different incidents, including ambushed laid by militants, accidents and shootout in Ukhrul, Chandel and other districts.
Meanwhile, villagers of Chingmun which falls under 55/1 station of Tipaimukh AC where re-poll will be conducted have appealed to the election authorities to rectify the anomalies in the electoral rolls so that the villagers are not denied their right to vote.
Speaking to reporters, a team from the village headed by its chief N Thonkhanson recounted that the villagers resorted to aggression and damaged the EVM on January 28 after they were told by the presiding officer that only 20 of the 155 eligible voters in Chingmun can cast their votes as the rest does not have documental support or have mis-matching of names and photographs in the electoral ID card. Blaming the negligence of the booth level officers for the incorrect combinations in the rolls as well as entering of unknown persons as villagers of Chingmun in the list, the villagers warned that a repetition of event like the demolition to EVM could happen if they are denied justice and prevented from voting on February 4.