IMPHAL, Jan 31 (NNN): The Naga People’s Front (NPF), Chandel divisional unit today sought the intervention of the concerned returning officers for re-poll in at least 13 polling stations of the district, a statement said.
It also claimed that the Tampi incident on January 28 occurred due to a gap in communication between CRPF personnel manning the station and all the death resulted from gun fire from security personnel present outside the room where voting was taking place.
Retorting to a news report published in an Imphal-based local daily yesterday, the NPF stated that had not sought the support of any armed groups during the election process, but upholding the motto of the party ‘Fide Non Armis,’ it sought the support of the general public and hence the allegation made by election agent of SS Olish was aimed at tarnishing the clean image of the party and unwarrantedly dragging in the NSCN-IM cadres with intention of creating confusion and derailing the militant group’s ongoing peace process with Centre.
SS Olish, an Independent candidate, and her election agent, Angam Bungsong visited polling stations 41/03, 41/02, 41/10, 41/16, 41/20 and 41/23 themselves on the polling day and no untoward incident happened to them, the Chandel unit NPF said. However, SS Olish and her escorts forcibly entered 41/16 polling booth and tried to damage the EVM, but timely intervention by some voters avoided any damage to the voting machine.
She even threatened the women who were standing there in the queue to cast their votes that she will order her escorts to shoot them, NPF charged.
The incident that took place at 41/40 Tampi polling station was due to the provocation by a CRPF personnel on duty, it claimed. It recounted that a male voter tried to snatch the EVM alerting the CRPF jawan guarding the door of the booth who tried to prevent him resulting in a fight. Amidst the violent tussle inside, other jawans outside the booth started firing into the room killing the seven persons.
NPF Chandel unit and its candidate also offered condolence to the bereaved families of the victims who died in the indiscriminate firing, it added.
In 42/9 polling station, nine voters were physically assaulted by personnel of 42 Assam Rifles attached to 26 Sector.
Moreover, two inner agents of NPF at 42/28 polling station were abducted, beaten up black and blue for three days and later released after the elections were over, it further alleged.
