IMPHAL, Feb 5: Reports of intimidation in hill areas regarding the assembly polls continued to be reported. One Phelix Lunghtoi, 35, son of Kinjelung of Maram Ching of Tamenglong AC was assaulted by NPF candidate, Samuel Jendai along with his workers.
Talking to IFP, Phelix stated that he along with some of his friends left Tamenglong district headquarters on January 3 for Songpram polling station which was scheduled for repoll. After reaching Songpram, he along with one of his friends went on a motorcycle to the upper Songpram village area. On the way back, Phelix was reportedly waylaid by Samuel Jendai who came in a Maruti gypsy along with his workers.Phelix was later asked to come along with the NPF workers,but the latter refused. Phelix said that he was manhandled by some of the NPF workers and forcibly taken to Songpram NPF office where he was interrogated for collusion with another candidate of the said assembly constituency. Later, he was allegedly beaten up and kept inside the NPF office.
According to Phelix’s statement, the NPF candidate had intimidated workers of his nearest rivals and used threatening words. It was reported that he along with his worker also assaulted a resident of Songpram village, Keibunsin, aged 30.
In the meantime, villagers who had heard of the incident reportedly mobbed the NPF candidate and his entourage and further blocked the candidate from leaving the village. Afterwards, after tendering his apology to the villagers, the NPF candidate with his workers left the village.
IFP photographed the tell-tale injury marks on the upper and lower body areas of Phelix who is presently hospitalized at RIMS hospital for internal injuries. Protesting the assault, he said “ Elections should be conducted fairly and each individual should be given the right to exercise one’s democratic rights.