IMPHAL, May 7: The state home department has received three complaints against the Indian National Congress and NSCN-IM for indulging in electoral malpractices during the recent Outer Manipur (ST) Parliamentary Constituency Lok Sabha polls.
According to a highly placed source, the home department recently received an official letter from the Returning Officer of the Outer Manipur seat, K Ranjit, the DC of Thoubal regarding the three complaints lodged by Kuki National Army alleging that the ruling Congress government gave one crore rupees to KNO/KNA president P.S Haokip before the recent outer LS poll on April 9 to render support to the party by his people.
In another complaint from Thangjakam Misao, an election agent of INC candidate, it was alleged that booths were captured in the two polling stations of 45-Chingai AC and 42-Tengnoupal AC by Naga People’s Front (NPF) supporters in collaboration with NSCN-IM cadres.
Thangjakam Misao lodged a complaint to the Outer constituency RO regarding the incident earlier. It was considered a serious allegation; so, reports were sought from the concerned DCs/DEOs/AROs of Ukhrul and Chandel Districts.
After submission of the districts reports, no cases of alleged booth capturing were detected in the polling stations of 45-Chingai AC and 42-Tengnoupal AC. However, a re-poll was conducted in 44/2-Sanakeithel of 44-Ukhrul on April 12 following an order of the ECI which was based on the report of DC/DEO/ARO, Ukhrul wherein he has reported that some unidentified persons threatened the voters and entered the polling station’s booth around 3 pm threatening the Presiding Officer not to write any negative comments in his Presiding Officer’s diary.
