BISHNUPUR, January 11: An average of 91.13 percent voter turnout was recorded in the election of six Municipal Councils and one Nagar Panchayat in Bishnupur district today.
As for the district having three Returning Officers, 92.06 percent voter turnout was recorded in Nambol Municipal Council under RO Nambol, 92.14 percent in Oinam Nagar Panchayat, 90.11 percent in Bishnupur District Council under RO Bishnupur, 89.44 percent in Ningthoukhong Municipal Council, 90 percent in Moirang Municipal Council under RO Moirang, 92.66 percent in Kwakta Municipal Council and 91.80 percent in Kumbi Municipal Council.
Counting of votes for the election will be conducted at Bishnupur Mini Complex on January 15 from 8 am.
There will be ten tables under RO Nambol, eight under RO Bishnupur and ten under RO Moirang for the counting of votes.
It may be mentioned here that for the first time in the State, only women polling officials were deployed in two polling stations under Nambol Municipal Council.
At 10/1 Polling Station (Nambol Collegiate High School), Professor of Thambal Marik College, Oinam Hamom Merina Devi acted as the Presiding Officer; headmistress of Ngaikhong Khunou Primary School L Babita Devi; teacher of Oinam Hindu Primary School Kh Sanahalbi Devi; assistant teacher of Oinam High School W Rajdhani Devi and assistant teacher of Leimapokpam Public High School L Manglembi Devi as Polling Officers.
SI L Bembem was the Security Officer-in-Charge at the polling station.
Director of Women’s Study Centre Wahengbam Kunjarani Chanu who is also Head of Philosophy Department, SK Women’s College was the Presiding Officer at 10/2 Polling Station (Naree Kalayan Vidyalaya, Nambol Sabal Leikai) while AES SDO Nambol Irom Ashalata Devi; LDC SDO Nambol K Binodkumari Devi; assistant teacher of Modhunimai High School, Irengbam Oinam Shilapati Devi and assistant teacher of Oinam Primary School were the Polling Officers.
SI Thounaojam Sarda Devi performed duty as the Securtiy-in-Charge at the polling station.
When this correspondent toured different parts of the district, there were reports of election-related uproar at Nambol, Kwakta and Kumbi. However, there was no disruption in conduct of the election.
Interestingly, at 6/1 Polling Station (Bishnupur Kha Government Junior High School) under Bishnupur Municipal Council, one Thiyam Bulbul son of T Joy of Bishnupur Ward No 5 attempted to cast vote, masquerading himself as an Indian army personnel from Kwaksiphai, who is undergoing training.
Inside the polling station, he was identified by Oinam Chaoba Singh, candidate of Ward Member and later rounded up. It was said that he was handed over to security personnel deployed there.
On receiving information about the incident, a team of police including OC Bishnupur Police Station Rishikesh; Inspector (CDO) Y Manaobi Meitei and SDPO Rameshwar came in and enquired the episode.
However, they were told by the security personnel that the man had escaped from their clutches.
RO Bishnupur also arrived at the polling station to take stock of the incident.
The tense situation was finally brought under control after the security personnel assured that the man will be nabbed.